Man fatally shot inside Harlem smoke shop

John Annese, New York Daily News
Updated ·2 min read
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A man was shot to death in a Harlem smoke shop Saturday night, police said.

Alfred Johnson, 42, was shot in the neck and torso in Level Up Exotics, a smoke shop with a “Super Mario Bros.”-themed awning on W. 125th St. near Fifth Ave. about 10:05 p.m. Saturday, cops said.

Medics took him to Harlem Hospital, but he couldn’t be saved.

A blood trail was still visible outside a Shake Shack restaurant across the street from the smoke shop.

“In this area, it’s not really surprising,” said a worker at a 99 cents store down the block who gave his name as just Billy. “Stuff like this has been happening. Happening almost every day.”

Police have made no arrests.

“I want the community to know, we have to work together with the police to stop such senseless violence,” said Chaplain Robert Rice, a local minister and clergy liaison with the NYPD who was on scene Sunday. “We have to work together to end gun violence.”

About 20 minutes after the fatal shooting, a 32-year-old woman was shot in the chest about five blocks away on E. 125th St. and Second Ave., police said.

Medics took her to Harlem Hospital in stable condition. She wasn’t initially cooperating with investigators, police sources said.

Chizzo Emek, 21, a native of South Africa who moved to Harlem a year ago, said he’s frustrated by the ongoing gun violence.

“I mean it’s just a bit of a vibe kill, and it doesn’t make you feel safe. ... I try to ignore it, but it’s everywhere,” said Emek, who was hoping to visit the smoke shop when he came upon the crime scene behind police tape instead Sunday.

“Just two days ago I was coming back from Whole Foods and there was a guy waving a gun around outside my apartment,” Emek added.

The bloodshed came on the heels of a rash of shootings citywide during a frightening 15-hour span that saw 14 people wounded — three fatally.

Five people were blasted in the Bronx, five in Brooklyn, and four in Queens in eight separate incidents between 2:30 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Saturday.

And on Thursday, a 22-year-old man was shot to death outside a Shake Shack steps from Times Square. Gunfire rang out , cops and witnesses said. Idrissa Siby was shot in the torso near W. 44th St. and Eighth Ave. about 5:35 p.m.

Medics rushed Siby, of the Bronx, to Mount Sinai West, but he could not be saved, police said. No arrests have been made.