NEWS

Man shot dead in Mount Vernon

Steve Lieberman, and Alex Taylor
A man was shot dead Friday night at 70 West Third St. in the Levister Towers housing project, authorities said.
  • Man shot dead in Mount Vernon
  • Man described as in his 30s
  • Police releasing more information Monday

MOUNT VERNON – A man was shot dead Friday night at the Levister Towers complex, authorities said Sunday.

The police provided scant details, saying the police commissioner would release information Monday morning.

Lt. Christopher Gallagher said a man in his 30s was shot at 10 p.m. Friday at 70 West Third St., a 10-story brick apartment building that is part of Levister Towers housing project. He said the man was taken to Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital.

He said detectives continue to investigate the shooting and that he didn't have any more information on the incident.

On Sunday, several residents entering the building identified the victim by his nickname, Bae. Mourners placed candles, flowers and a balloon attached to a cardboard box at a makeshift memorial next to the entrance. "R.I.P. Bae" read one of the messages.

"He was a good dude," said Reggie Barnes, 45. "He was humble. He didn't bother nobody."

A woman who identified herself as a member of the victim's family was too distraught to speak to a reporter.

Mourners placed candles, flowers and a balloon near the entrance of 70 West Third St. where a Mount Vernon man was shot and killed on Friday.

Several residents said the man had been found dead inside the apartment's basement next door to a Mount Vernon police sub-precinct that opened in 2012. It was unclear if the sub-precinct was staffed at the time of the shooting.

Levister Towers, a five-building complex, has seen more than its share of violence.

In July, a 32-year-old security supervisor in the complex was arrested after he allegedly gunned down a co-worker after the victim made comments about his size and weight.

In May, former Mount Vernon basketball standout Isaiah Cousins was shot in the shoulder near Levister Towers when police said an errant bullet from one of two warring street gangs struck him in the back of the shoulder.

The Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed a person had been shot dead in Mount Vernon on Friday night, but referred questions on the man's identity and the details to the police and Westchester County District Attorney's Office.

Police said Saturday they were investigating a suspicious death.

Calls seeking comment from the District Attorney's Office and Mayor Ernie Davis were not returned.