Cops seek clues in Woodmere murder

Homicide detectives continued to hunt for leads in the slaying of a 20-year-old Woodmere man who was fatally shot as he attempted to escape from robbers on June 15.

Police investigators have been scouring the neighborhood and reaching out to the community for any possible assistance in the case. "We always appreciate any help from the community," said Detective Lt. John Azzata of the Nassau County Homicide Squad. "We do our best work when we hold hands with the neighborhood.

"We have several people helping us in the immediate vicinity," Azzata added.

The murder victim has been identified as Tristen Theodore, of South End — the son of the homeowner at that house, detectives said.

According to police, Theodore and a family friend, who was not identified, were outside the home at 1:40 a.m. last Tuesday when two men, both armed with handguns, approached them and forced them inside at gunpoint.

"They were held ... in the home for a short period of time," said Azzata. The men robbed the house, but Azzata did not reveal what was taken because those details may be crucial to the investigation.

The gunmen then grabbed the keys to the homeowner's vehicle, a black 2004 Infiniti, and forced the victims into the rear seat, detectives said. As they began to drive away, the family friend, who is in his early 20s, jumped out of the moving car and safely fled. The vehicle turned onto Andover Lane, where Theodore leapt from the car as well but was shot in the chest, investigators said.

The gunmen sped away as the mortally wounded Theodore staggered through neighborhood backyards and scaled backyard fences until he arrived at the rear patio of 9 Andover Lane, detectives said. He banged on the door and the homeowners, hearing the noise, called 911.

Theodore was rushed to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside, where he was pronounced dead at 10:45 a.m., police said.

"We do not believe this was a random act," Azzata said of the robbery-turned-murder. He said that police found the Infiniti abandoned on William Street and Franklin Avenue in Hewlett, but he would not comment on whether the murderers left any clues behind. The murder weapon had not been recovered, Azzata added.

Neighbors said that Theodore and his family moved to Woodmere from Elmont a couple of months ago. "They're very nice, very friendly," said one South End neighbor who has lived on the block for 50 years but declined to be identified. "They always said hello.

"These are things that happen in today's world," she added. "I'm sorry that a boy so dear had to die, but in today's world no neighborhood is safe from crime."

One Andover Lane neighbor who has lived on the block for 40 years said she was out of town when the incident occurred. "It's certainly very uncomfortable that it happened in this neighborhood," she said. "I hope that whoever did this is caught and severely punished."

One of the gunmen was described as a black man in his mid-20s, about 5 feet 6 with corn-rowed hair, a mustache and goatee and thick eyebrows, wearing a black T-shirt and red shorts.

The second gunman, also black and in his mid-20s, was described as 6 feet 2 with a dark complexion and a thin build. He was clean-shaven and wearing a black do-rag, dark baggy jeans and a red and white shirt or two layered shirts, one white and the other red, police said.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.

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