A late night shooting at the Rockaway Avenue subway station has left one man dead and police say the shooter is still on the loose. The victim has been identified as 47-year-old Freddie Weston. Officers say he was shot in the head shortly before midnight barely one mile from his home in Brownsville.
According to police, the incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. in the mezzanine area of the Rockaway Avenue station on Fulton Street. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The Rockaway Avenue station is no stranger to violence. Data from the NYPD reveals that the 73rd Precinct has the highest number of shootings on record in the city so far this year. Additionally, transit-related violence has been on the rise.
Last week, a 76-year-old man was attacked by six girls at the same station, and earlier this year, an MTA conductor was slashed in the neck at the station.
"I'm a little nervous. I'm scared because I have a loved one who lives around here, so I'm nervous for her safety, nervous for the population. I hope that the city is able to solve it and figure out what happened and make sure everyone’s safe," said Kevin who lives in the area.
As of this morning, police are continuing their search for the shooter.