May 14, 2007 — Police on Monday continued their investigation into the killing of a 30-year-old Hispanic man while his friend, shot and also left for dead, was in stable condition and recuperating at Schneider Hospital.
Recardo Rosa, a Dominican Republic native, was shot and killed early Saturday morning while walking home from a Smith Bay-area nightspot with his friend. The friend, whom police are not identifying, sustained gunshot injuries after the two were approached by two masked men, one carrying a gun. The victims were initially robbed of personal items, including jewelry, then shot, according to Police Spokeswoman Shawna Richards.
The incident came four days after a similar shooting of other Hispanic men in the Bovoni area. (See "Armed Robbery Leaves One Man Dead, One Critically Injured.") Police would not speculate on whether Hispanics are being targeted, but acknowledged that the shootings may be connected.
"We are exploring all leads and not ruling out any possible connection between the cases," Richards said Monday afternoon.
Someone called 911 at 2:50 a.m. Saturday and said that an individual was lying on the ground near the mini-golf course in Smith Bay, Richards said. The victim, later identified as Rosa, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and appeared dead at the scene, she said.
Police learned of the other victim, age 31, after employees of Schneider Hospital reported it to the 911 Center.
In a statement released shortly after the shootings, investigators "made contact with the victim and learned of his connection to the Smith Bay incident," Richards said. Police do not have descriptions of the suspects.
The weekend's shooting was similar to one that occurred Tuesday in Bovoni. According to reports in that case, two men and a woman, all Hispanic, were walking toward their home when two masked robbers approached. They robbed the woman of cash and a computer and then shot the two men, one of whom died. The woman was not injured.
In that killing, Sandy Cruz, 20, died shortly before 2 a.m. on May 9 after he was rushed to Schneider Hospital. The other victim, age 36, was hospitalized in critical condition and is recuperating from injuries. There have been no arrests and that investigation is ongoing, Richards said.
Police Chief Milton Petersen Sr. is reminding residents to use caution when traveling at night and urges anyone with information on both incidents and any other crimes to contact the Police hotline at 715-5544 or 911.
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