Xavier Roberts Obituary, Death – Two young men were killed in an overnight shooting in Astoria, Queens, and police are looking for three suspects. It occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Friday evening. on the corner of Astoria Boulevard and Steinway Street, next to a mosque and several nightclubs.
Those leaving the building following the prayer services reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing one of the victims collapse to the ground. Xavier Roberts, 22, and Jaheim Hamilton, 21, have been identified as suspects in this case. They were shot in the torso, according to police, and were pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital. According to CBS2, the stretch of nightclubs along the street has become an increasingly dangerous area, with fights taking place on a regular basis.
“So, as I was walking out of my apartment a couple blocks away, I heard what had to be 20 shots in rapid succession,” said witness Chris Luth. “I was walking when I heard shots fired nearby, and I became very concerned; my cousin just returned from Morocco, and he’s already planning his next trip there.” “It was once considered to be among the most desirable in New York City, but because they opened four or five clubs there, the neighborhood quickly became known as one of the most dangerous,” said Mohammed Hussein, an Astoria resident who works there.
In comparison to the same period last year, there have been five shootings in this area this year, compared to only three last year. The police have released a photo of three people they are looking for. According to the investigators, two of them pulled out firearms and shot the victims multiple times. The suspects fled in a red Jeep Grand Cherokee with a black and red hood, according to police. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the New York Police Department’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA for Spanish-speaking residents (74782).