by David Greene

Police have launched a search for the killer of a 43-year-old man shot dead inside his home in an apparent home invasion, according to police.

Officers from the 46th Precinct were dispatched to 355 E. 187th St. in Fordham Heights, a known hotspot for cops in the Four-Six. After callers reported shots fired to 911 operators during the early morning hours of Sunday, March 9, police arrived to find the victim shot multiple times—once in the head and the other in the torso. He was pronounced dead on the scene. 

The victim’s name has been withheld, following notification to the victim’s family.

Cops say that as the two suspects fled the six-story building they crossed paths with a 19-year old man who was returning home, whom they pistol-whipped in the hallway before stealing his wallet.

The 19-year old who also has not been identified, suffered stab wounds to the head and a broken finger. Sources say the victim is critical but stable at St. Barnabas Hospital and is expected to survive.

At the present time police are only saying that the two suspects were both 5-feet 7-inches tall and wearing dark clothing. The suspects fled the building on foot.

A 12-year resident of the building who was shocked to see police inside the gated complex on Sunday morning, stated, “Nothing like this has ever happened here before.”

An elderly resident of a private home across the street, warned of the area, “If you don’t have somewhere to go at night, you shouldn’t go out.”

The resident, who also declined to be identified, claimed the block has serious problems with drugs and street crime. Vandals often find it easy to commit a crime and make an easy escape given the dead end street that leads to a staircase that cuts to Elm Place and East 188^th Street.

The resident explained, “They run down the stairs and in seconds they’re three-blocks away.

At press time police have made no arrests and have no suspects at this time.