31-year-old man gunned down in SoHo in apparent ambush: NYPD
NEW YORK CITY - A well-known sneaker reseller was shot and killed early Tuesday morning in SoHo, the NYPD said.
Shooting in SoHo
The shooting happened around 5:15 a.m. on Greene Street.
According to police, the 31-year-old man, identified as Javier Osorio-Mejia of Bayonne, New Jersey, was shot three times in the right leg. At least one of the bullets pierced his thigh.
Complex Sneakers posted to X that Osorio-Mejia, was a well-known figure in New York City's sneaker culture, selling rare, high-end sneakers to A-list celebrity clientele.
Friends of Osorio-Mejia told FOX 5 NY that he had recently celebrated his birthday and was the father of a 2-year-old baby.
Sources told FOX 5 NY's Lisa Evers that the shooter or shooters who killed Osorio-Mejia left behind his cash and his brand new Range Rover.
Osorio-Mejia was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he died.
The suspect, or suspects, fled in a black SUV, police said.
NYPD detectives and crime scene investigators spent many hours going over the scene in search of clues. Sources told FOX 5 NY's Lisa Evers significant ballistic evidence was recovered from the apparent ambush.
Detectives also recovered cash that was left on the ground, along with the victim's trademark lime green Nike sneakers.
"It's my feeling it's not indigenous to a change in SoHo. I mean there's a change citywide in violence. We all know this in all of the boroughs," a witness said.
"I'm just devastated and I just want everyone to know he was a good person. He wasnt involved in no foul stuff, he was a humble dude, he helped a lot of people," one of Osorio-Mejia's friends said.
No arrests have been made. The motive behind the shooting was unknown at the time.
As detectives continued their work, friends gathered to mourn the loss of a rising businessman and support each other.
"It's a shame it's happening, and we need a change. We need to get rid of the guns. That is the root of the problem," another witness added.
Recent gun violence has New Yorkers on edge
Last month, 16-year-old Mahki Brown, of Brooklyn, was shot and killed in SoHo, the NYPD said.
According to police, Brown was fatally shot near Varick and Spring streets, a busy area for Manhattan tourists bustling with shopping, hotels and exhibits.
Police say around 2:30 p.m., two groups of girls were fighting, and two boys attempted to intervene. That's when authorities say gunshots rang out.
Brown was shot once in the head and his right thigh. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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A week later, the NYPD took 19-year-old Henry Thomas into custody and charged him with murder in connection to the fatal shooting.
Brown was a student at the nearby Broome Street Academy Charter High School. Those who knew him say that he was passionate about basketball.