Police: 19-year-old fatally shot outside McDonald's was former Hempstead H.S. student

The shooting happened in the parking lot of the restaurant on Peninsula Boulevard at 3:48 p.m. Officials say the shooting was a targeted incident.

News 12 Staff

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Sep 15, 2022, 9:42 AM

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Updated 789 days ago

Hempstead police say a 2021 graduate of Hempstead High School was fatally shot outside of a McDonald's on Wednesday.

The shooting happened in the parking lot of the restaurant on Peninsula Boulevard at 3:48 p.m. Officials say the shooting was a targeted incident.

Police say multiple shots were fired. They say the Hispanic victim, 19, was in the parking lot when the shooter came up behind him and started firing.

One man, who did not want to be identified, said he saw the shooting.

"Two guys came up chasing the guy, the young guy. I guess he was trying to get away," he says. "He was holding up his pants. They shot him. They had masks on, and they ran out that way. It was crazy."

Chief of Police Paul Johnson says there was an officer right in the area who was there in seconds. He says even if the officers get there immediately, the suspects can disappear quickly.

Shot Spotter also picked up the shooting.

The victim has not been identified by police, and no arrests have been made.

Hempstead police say they regularly patrol around the schools and the parking lot where the shooting was.

Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs says it is important to make clear that they want to work with the school district for a safe environment.

On Friday, two new school resource officers are going to be inside of Hempstead High School to try and prevent any gang activity or violence.

Godwin Doe, formerly of Hempstead, says he moved his wife and three children to Albany because he fears for their safety.

"I think Hempstead, we need to wake up," Doe says. "Killing each other is not the way to go."

Nassau County Police Homicide Squad is leading the investigation. They have not given any updates as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

Statement from Hempstead School Board President Randy Stith:

This senseless act of violence is exactly what we were trying to avoid and is exactly why the Hempstead UFSD Board of Education called for extra police presence in our village from the Nassau County Police Department, the Nassau County Sheriff Department, and the NYS Troopers. But here we are today, dealing with the aftermath of yet another killing of another young person which happened across the street from one of our elementary schools. That same elementary school which is dedicated for use by our Pre-K & Kindergarten students.

The killing happened at a time where our high school and middle school students would normally be walking the area on their way home from school. Most students normally stop at that McDonald's after school as it is a popular choice for young people, and it is nearby our schools. McDonald's located at 340 Peninsula Blvd is only .08 miles away from the high school and .04 miles away from the ABGS Middle School.

It is not acceptable to heighten our response to violence post incident. We needed a coordinated plan of action to be enacted prior to terrible incidents such as this one because this was foreseeable. Sad that those who could have done more didn't. From what I have seen, the video footage of the scene was disturbing. As is to be expected! Our students witnessed the tragic event and young people shouldn't be subject to being gunned down in the street while running away from a gang. I am recalling on Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and NYS Gov. Kathy Hochul to get involved and help. Hempstead is in the county of Nassau and is in the state of New York. They have the power to assist in a greater way even if they haven't been asked to do so by the mayor.