By Jeff Lipton
The victim, whose name is being withheld by police, had just finished a workout at the Hollywood Atrium Club, at 235 Mill Street, at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, and left the club, according to investigators.
As he walked to his car in the club's parking lot, he was confronted by a man who brandished a handgun and, without uttering a word, fired several rounds at the victim, police said.
The victim managed to run through the parking lot and into the club's vestibule, closely followed by the gunman, who fired more shots at him, hitting him in the shoulder and the pelvic area, authorities said. It was not known how many times the victim was struck by gunfire, police said.
When the victim is approaching his car in the parking lot, the subject fires some shots at the victim, said Det. Sgt. John Azzata of the Fourth Squad. The victim ran back to the front entrance of the atrium club, where the subject fired at the victim again.
The gunman then ran toward a car, possibly a dark green Toyota 4-Runner, which was parked facing west on Mill Street, and sped away north on Lawrence Avenue, police said.
The victim was driven by private vehicle to St. John's Episcopal Hospital, South Shore, in Far Rockaway, by an acquaintance who was in the lobby. The victim was initially listed in serious and precariously stable condition, detectives said. His condition was upgraded to stable after he underwent surgery, Sgt. Azzata said. Detectives said his wounds were not considered life-threatening.
Detectives said the victim, although he remained in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, was taken off a respirator on Saturday, April 12, and they were able to question him for the first time about what had happened.
He doesn't know why it happened. That's what he's telling us, said Det. Sgt. John King of the Fourth Squad. There is no motive. It is unclear as to what precipitated it.
The gunman was described as a black man, about 21 years old, 5-feet-8 to 5-feet-10, wearing a red and black bandanna and a red and black hooded sweatshirt, police said.
Detectives said they are still trying to sort out what happened, and why.
Fourth Squad investigators said the victim appeared to have been targeted for the shooting, but they are not sure why. They also are investigating whether there was any prior contact between the victim and the gunman before the shooting.
I don't have a motive at this time, Sgt. Azzata said. We have not arrested anyone. It is an ongoing investigation.
Workers at the club said they were shocked when the shooting started.
We're just grateful that he survived, Kim Belmonte, the club's manager, said of the victim. We're extremely grateful that no one else was hurt.
A man who works as a valet parker had just left work minutes earlier, club officials said.
Club employees said the victim has been a member for about four years and they knew him as a really nice guy.
He's very nice and clean-cut and well-dressed and he looked very healthy, which is what probably saved his life, one club employee said.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will be kept strictly confidential, police said.
