By Nicole Falco
Edwards, 28, of 205 Cedar St., was shot once in the back as he and the other man attempted to enter the house through a side door. After being shot, Edwards managed to run through his home and out the front door and continue east toward Broadway before collapsing, according to Detective Lt. Dennis Farrell of the Nassau County Homicide Squad.
Police discovered Edwards lying in the street approximately 300 feet from his home. He was airlifted to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m.
"Exactly what the motive is here, we are not 100 percent sure," Farrell said. "We are looking into the strong possibility that the house was being used in some manner for the distribution of marijuana."
Farrell identified Joseph Modeste as the man who was with Edwards at the time of the shooting. Modeste was arrested that day on a drug-related charge after police discovered marijuana in the Dodge van he was driving. Modeste, 30, whose last known address was 521 Bristol St. in Brooklyn, was charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana.
There were at least two people in the house at the time of the shooting, who fled within minutes of the shots, Farrell said. "They are not suspects," he said, but added that police are interested in talking with them as possible eyewitness.
"Obviously, we are at a disadvantage until we can locate all the people in the house," Farrell said.
During the police investigation, Cedar Street was closed between Hook Creek Boulevard and Broadway. Children played nearby as more than a dozen officers and detectives investigated the shooting. Days later, the police presence was still strong as detectives continued to search Edwards' house for clues.
Neighbors said they didn't know Edwards, but, on occasion, had seen him working in his front yard. He reportedly moved to Cedar Street in April.
"I've seen the fella to say hello to him, but I didn't even know his name," said Peter Deninno, a member of the Rosedale Civilian Patrol.
Deninno and other neighbors watched as a Police Crime Scene Unit parked its vehicle outside Edwards' home. According to Deninno, the victim's blood could easily be seen in the driveway, and there was a bullet hole in the door.
"I heard four shots -- I think it was four shots," said Joseph Cona, who lives across from Edwards and was in his backyard at the time. "It happened so fast."
According to neighbors, Cedar Street, part of which is in Queens, is normally a quiet neighborhood.
Police ask that anyone with information relevant to the shooting call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All calls are confidential.
