‘A push, shove and a shot’
Dispute over a woman cited in slaying Man, 21, shot as children played nearby
Aperceived slight over a woman may be behind the daylight fatal shooting of a 21- year- old man yesterday in a North York park as children played nearby.
“ It was about disrespect,” said a local resident who believes that scenario led to the man’s death at Upwood Park, near Jane St. and Lawrence Ave. W., the latest in a string of fatal shootings this summer. The resident said the shooter thought the victim had been “ messing with his girl” and bragging about it. The victim was Rommel Molina, who grew up and lived nearby in a Lawrence Ave. apartment building with his parents and siblings, friends said. Police weren’t confirming the victim’s identity last night. The victim’s brother, believed to be 19, rushed to the scene after learning of the shooting. He fought back tears and leaned against a police vehicle for support before he was escorted away by police.
Friends with the victim when he was shot are co-operating with police, said duty Insp. Tom Fitzgerald of 12 Division. “My understanding is they were just having a smoke,’’ Fitzgerald said. “A dispute developed and there was a push, shove and a shot.”
Police said late last night two men approached the victim and one of them pulled out a gun.
Earlier, a resident, who didn’t want to be identified, said the gunman was on a bicycle that he wheeled into the park just after 5 p. m. The resident said the killer rode over to where the victim was standing, pulled a gun from his trousers and fired two shots, striking him once in the chest. The gunman then calmly turned the bike around and rode “ casually” out of the park, leaving the man sprawled on the vacant bocce court, the resident said, adding there were four kids in the park at the time.
Police were hunting for a gunman and a motive for the fatal shooting, the 34th of the year compared to 27 for all of 2004.
Efforts by emergency crews to revive the victim in the park failed and he was pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. Emergency Task Force officers and the canine unit searched nearby ravines and a string of parks that line Black Creek.
“ Why did it happen to him?” said a shaken Steve Simpson, who arrived at the park near Marshlynn Ave. as the news of Molina’s death spread quickly in the community.
“ He was a good guy, and probably was just hanging out getting ready to go to work,” he said, adding his friend of one year drove a forklift at a factory. Simpson said he was unaware of Molina being embroiled in any kind of trouble.
Fred Walsh, a resident, said his daughter, who wasn’t speaking to reporters but was interviewed by police, told him she was in the park with her three children when the shots rang out, sending them fleeing.
“ I’ve lived here all my life, but it’s been crazy around here for the last couple of years,” said another resident, John Colonna, 37.