A 40-year-old father was tragically shot in the basement of a Brooklyn apartment building early Sunday, according to authorities, leaving his wife and friends stunned.
Lavel Fraiser was shot in the torso around 1 a.m. in a building on Sterling Place near Franklin Ave. in Crown Heights, according to authorities.
Medical personnel transported him to Kings County Hospital, but he could not be rescued.
According to a friend, Fraiser spent a lot of time in the basement, where he died.
“I know they have cookouts, and some of them hang out here, but nothing crazy happens,” said a woman who lives down the street. “It’s really sad.”
The victim was married with four children. He resided just a few blocks from the building where he was shot, according to police.
“He’s very humble,” remarked the victim’s wife, Adriana. “He’s an entrepreneur [and was] going to school for business management.”
Fraiser enjoyed sports and music, according to a long-time acquaintance.
“It’s crazy,” claimed the man, who went by the name Blanco. “I’m still in disbelief.”
Police have made no arrests as they continue to look for the gunman.
“You know people, and you’ll be like, nah, that can’t happen to them?” Blanco asked. “I came to this, and I couldn’t believe it.”
According to NYPD statistics, the killing was the fourth homicide in the 77th Precinct this year, up from just one through March 3, last year.
