While crime continues to plummet on the streets of Flatbush, one killer remains at large and police continue to seek the public’s help.
The incident, caught on videotape and shown on several media outlets, occurred at 8:26 p.m., Oct. 12 in the donut shop at 188 Parkside Avenue, when a black male wearing a tan coat and dark jeans approached the front door of the small restaurant and fired shots striking three victims inside. One of the victims, 19-year-old Brian Scott, died from the wounds.
Police found shell casings in front of the shop and are asking anyone with information on the incident to call the 70th Precinct detective squad at (718) 851-5553 or 54. They can also call the Crimestopper hotline at 1-800-TIPS.
The murder was the sixth reported within the precinct jurisdiction thus far this year, which is even with the six reported at this time in 2008.
The murder comes as shootings in the precinct are up slightly for the year with 21 reported incident so far in 2009 as compared to 17 at this time last year.
Gun collars are the same with 63 arrests so far in 2009 and 63 at this time last year.
However, the precinct had a busy last 28 days, making 12 gun arrests during this period.
Overall major felony crime is down nearly 13 percent for the year, with robbery leading the way in being down 26 percent. There have been 327 reported robberies so far in 2009 as compared to 442 at this time last year.
Grand larceny is down 13 percent for the year with 610 reported incident so far this year as compared to 705 at this time last year. Both felony assaults and burglaries are down in the single digits percentage wise.
There have 264 reported felony assaults so far in 2009 as compared to 286 at this time last year; and 302 burglaries so far this year as compared to 321 at this time in 2008.
The only major crime index that is up is auto theft, which has risen nearly 12 percent. There have been 170 reported cars stolen so far in 2009 as compared to 152 at this time last year.
“There is an average of four cars stolen every week,” said Inspector Ralph Monteforte, commanding officer of the 70th Precinct. “We’re very concerned and there are no identified areas in the command where it’s concentrated.”
Monteforte said there has also been a rash of air bag thefts in the southern and central part of precinct. They usually take the air bags on the driver’s side and are mainly getting into the car through the back rear windows, he said.