A 21-year-old man was fatally shot in the head while he had just arrived to get his car repaired at a Brooklyn auto shop yesterday. According to the Daily News, the victim, identified by NYPD officials as Cypress Hills resident Joharis Rivas, had pulled up his black BMW sedan at Robel Auto Repair shop on Meserole St. near Union Ave. in Williamsburg. A witness reported to the Daily News that the shooter had to quickly park his e-bike across the street and, after an eye contact with the victim, delivered a fatal shot.
After the incident, which occurred shortly before 2:20 p.m., police responded to the scene but were unable to apprehend the gunman, who fled on the e-bike. "As he got out of the BMW, he shot him in the head and ran. It was crazy," the witness told the Daily News. Rivas was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The killing marks the first homicide of the year in the 90th Precinct, which covers Williamsburg.
Relatives of Rivas, who has three daughters, were reached but declined to comment further when approached at his listed address, as noted by Gothamist. The precinct where the shooting occurred is noted for having low gun violence rates, with one person shot and killed there last year and none fatally shot in 2023.
Meanwhile, the NYPD has not released any information on a potential suspect or motive. A woman, self-identified as the victim's girlfriend, was seen grieving at the scene while detectives carried out their investigation. The precinct's close proximity to the crime scene, steps away from the NYPD’s 90th Precinct stationhouse. As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information to confidentially call the Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS, as a plea for public assistance in locating the perpetrator.
