A surveillance photo was released Tuesday of of the suspected teen gunman wanted for firing a stray bullet that killed a 66-year-old man who happened to be driving by in Queens, sparking a crash that left a pedestrian hospitalized.
The gunman, described as between 15 and 18, ran off after he opened fire from the parking lot of the Popeye’s near 117th Road and Farmers Blvd. in St. Albans about 4:50 p.m. Monday.
“There was a shot and a bunch of kids fighting in the parking lot,” said a witness who did not want to share their name.
William Alcindor was struck in the head by the stray slug as he drove by in his Nissan SUV. Mortally wounded, he lost control of his vehicle and plowed into a 23-year-old woman crossing the street before crashing into a building.
A police source confirmed Alcindor was “in the wrong place at the wrong time” and that the gunman was involved in the parking lot fracas and aiming for someone in that group.
Medics rushed Alcindor to Jamaica Hospital, where he died a short time later. The pedestrian was taken to the same hospital in stable condition.
“I heard the bang,” said Roberto Tendilla, 32, who manages a supermarket near the scene. “It was the car crashing into the building across the street. It was crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it in the 17 years I’ve worked here.”
The NYPD is asking the public’s help identifying and tracking down the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.