Mount Vernon again rattled by a slaying

An 18-year-old man was shot Sunday morning, becoming the latest victim of gun violence this year in a city on edge over eight total homicides. Police say a gunman shot and killed Hassan Green as he stood

News 12 Staff

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Sep 29, 2008, 2:02 PM

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Updated 5,862 days ago

An 18-year-old man was shot Sunday morning, becoming the latest victim of gun violence this year in a city on edge over eight total homicides.

Police say a gunman shot and killed Hassan Green as he stood with his infant son outside his home at 463 11th Ave. hours after city police launched a new aggressive crackdown on gun violence.

After learning of her son's death, Green's mother collapsed to the floor and was taken to the hospital.

"The family is absolutely devastated. Delivering that news is never easy," Mount Vernon Police Chief Barbara Duncan says.

Authorities say at least half a dozen shots were fired, and bullets hit cars and rooftops, but the infant escaped injury. Police are looking for the shooter and say there wasn't a motive in the slaying.

Mayor Clinton Young says it's ironic that Green was shot Sunday morning, just three hours after police completed random checkpoints in hopes of getting illegal handguns off the streets.

"[The] reason we implemented the initiative was to avoid or prevent situations like this. We have to do more," Young says.

The mayor and police promised to beef up patrols once again in part to help calm people's fears.

"I'm scared for my life, my daughter's life. It's just too close to home for me," says Michelle Campbell, of Mount Vernon.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 914-665-2510 .