QUEENS — Police have increased patrols in Jamaica after a man was fatally shot in the face last month, fearing that the shooting may trigger retaliation, officials said Tuesday.
Robert Hale, 32, of Jamaica, was found on Oct. 17 with two gunshot wounds to his face at the intersection of 107th Avenue and 164th Street, about eight blocks from where he lived, officials said.
Hale, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was shot roughly noon on a Saturday, police said.
“Every time anything that violent happens during the day, it's even more urgent for us,” said Capt. James Fey of the 103rd Precinct at a community council meeting Tuesday night.
“It’s a very brazen thing to do when there are people who may witness you do it,” Fey noted.
Additional police cars have been monitoring the area between 109th Avenue and South Road, and between Merrick Boulevard and 160th Street, officials said.
“We are trying to stop the violence,” Fey said, adding that it has not been determined how long the additional patrols will remain in the area.
Hale was well known in the neighborhood, and had previous convictions including one for robbery, police said.
Investigators believe that he was the victim of a drug-related hit and that the shooting may have been provoked by a post on social media, police sources said.
Police continue to hunt for the suspect, who was seen fleeing the scene on foot. The man was wearing a blue button-up jacket over a green hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and dark shoes, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
