Deep remnants of blood stain the sun-drenched street corner where Dwayne Saunders drew his final breath. His last moments defined by a violent foot chase, a crying girlfriend, and a good Samaritan struggling to keep Saunders’ weakening pulse from slowing to an end. Minutes later, ambulances arrive to pronounce Saunders dead at the scene.

“I tried to help him out as much as I can,” said the would-be savior, who only went by James, 31. He remembers using napkins from a nearby bodega to absorb the streams of blood gushing out of Saunders. Police say Saunders suffered gunshot wounds to the stomach and groin.

“I tried to put pressure on it. And everyone was like, ‘nah, leave it, leave it,’ and so I went into the store, got some napkins and turned him on his side,” James said.  

It was the first summer-like morning of the year and before lunchtime, homicide detectives were already knocking on doors and questioning residents after the second killing in Norwood in the last nine days. Two people are now wanted for the shooting.

According to the FDNY, paramedics were called to the front of a five-story building at 3322 Perry Ave. at 11:20 a.m., on May 1, but were soon told to head back. A police spokesman confirmed to the Norwood News that a “37-year-old man was struck in the groin and stomach.” Police later identified Saunders as the victim. Saunders has an address in Queens. Police say Saunders has an arrest record and is known by police at the 52nd Precinct.

The fatal shooting is the second in Norwood this year, just before the year’s half-way mark. Norwood experienced one homicide last year in the fatal shooting of Michael Vermong on March 29.

One police source confirmed that the unidentified victim had been shot dead on the street.

Sections of Perry Avenue, East 209th Street and Hull Avenue were cordoned off for the rest of the afternoon.

SMHH Sad!! Daylight 11am Shooting in The Bronx on Perry ave and 209th street @PIX11News @fox5ny @News12BX . pic.twitter.com/d0lYj3UkWl

— Hippy J (@HippyJBX) May 1, 2018

Police were reportedly looking for a black male wearing black pants, white shirt and black sneakers and armed with a black handgun.

One longtime neighborhood resident who declined to be identified, recalled,”Yeah, two men were arguing and one guy shot the other and he died. It happens around here.”

Meanwhile, police are still waiting for “family notification” of the still-unidentified 38 year-old male victim shot inside an apartment at 3152 Hull Ave. on April 23, even though the victim was shot inside a relative’s apartment. The victim, unresponsive, was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital’s trauma unit where he was pronounced upon arrival. The victim’s name is being withheld until the family is notified.

Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo, the commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, which took the two homicides, told an audience at the latest 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting that officers had identified a suspect for the April 23 fatal shooting. “There is a person identified already and the hunts on. We’re still looking for him, we haven’t arrested him yet,” said Fiorillo. “This was the result of a dispute between the ex-boyfriend who was staying with a young lady in the house and her cousin.”

Additional reporting by David Cruz.