Crew member shot dead on ‘Law & Order’ set in NYC: cops
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A crew member working for “Law & Order: Organized Crime’’ was fatally gunned down at the TV show’s Brooklyn set early Tuesday — in a shooting that could have been pulled straight out of the script, authorities said.
The victim, a 31-year-old married dad of three, was sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on N Henry Street near Norman Avenue in Greenpoint around 5:15 a.m. when another man suddenly opened the driver’s side door and blasted him, officials said.
“It was crazy,’’ said a distraught colleague of the victim, who worked for NBC parking vehicles at the show’s sets in the wee hours to save spaces for the film crews’ trucks later.
“I didn’t hear an argument or nothing. It was quiet, early morning,’’ the colleague said. “It was just a pop, and the [gunman] ran up towards Nassau [Avenue]. I only heard one bang, but I don’t know how many shots.
“I don’t even know who would do this or why.’’
The victim, whose name has not been released pending family notification, was shot multiple times in the face and neck, officials said.
He was taken to Woodhull Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just before 6 a.m., cops said.
Filming had been scheduled to film on the set at 6 a.m., according to a notice at the scene.
The suspect fled and is still in the wind, authorities said. He is described as having a medium complexion and last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants, cops said.
NBC and Universal Television, which produce the TV crime series, said in a statement, “We were terribly saddened and shocked to hear that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and has died as a result.
“We are working with local law enforcement as they continue to investigate. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time.”
The victim’s pal and coworker said he had known the dead man for seven years and described him “like a brother to me.’’ The friend said the victim left behind a wife, two daughters and a son.
“We’ve been doing this for five or six years,” he said of the men’s job.
“We put up the fliers, cones and park the trucks. We come 24 hours in advance to start clearing out the parking.
“We park in our trucks, and we wait for the stars to come out,” he said. “The trucks have equipment for the TV shows and movie scenes.”
The coworker added of his dead friend, “He was a great guy, always laughing or making somebody laugh, you know?”
Cops have yet to release a motive for the shooting.
But local resident Ian Oberholtzer, 35, who has lived on the block for 11 years, said he doubted the crime was motivated over any dispute involving a parking spot.
“I can’t imagine it was related to parking,” Oberholtzer said. “There’s plenty of parking spots at 5 a.m.”
The block is a popular set for shooting the show because it is close to production studios, according to Oberholtzer.
“They shoot a lot over here,” he said. “The parking routine is pretty normal.“
Oberholtzer added that the area is normally quiet and safe.
“It’s not the kind of thing you’d expect on the block,’’ he said of the deadly shooting.
“I never feel threatened or endangered. I’m concerned but also pretty confused by it.”