Upper East Side & Roosevelt Island

Crime & Mayhem

Man Fatally Shot in the Head in Harlem

December 23, 2012 5:43pm | Updated December 23, 2012 5:43pm
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EAST HARLEM — An Upper East Side man was killed Saturday evening when he was shot in the head Uptown, police said.

Israel Vasquez, 35, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at 7:40 p.m. Saturday in front of a building on East 118th Street near First Avenue.

Vasquez was declared dead at Harlem Hospital.

"The man was lying down on the ground and not moving," said witness George Angel, 21, "I didn't see a lot of blood. The guy was gasping for air."

Police did not yet have a suspect in the shooting, but said an investigation was ongoing.

John Brecevich, 58, an owner of Patsy's Pizzeria on the corner of East 118th Street and First Avenue, said he was surprised to hear there was a shooting at that time.

"We didn't hear anything. We were outside here all night long." he said. 

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