Yet another tragedy happened on the set of a movie as a crew member on the hit US TV crime drama Law & Order was gunned down on the show’s New York set in a shooting that could well have been scripted.
According to the New York Post, Johnny Pizarro, a 31-year-old married father of three, had just begun his shift on the set of Law & Order: Organized Crime on Tuesday, local time. Around 5.15 a.m., he was sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle that was saving a parking space in the Brooklyn suburb of Greenpoint when another man suddenly opened the driver’s door and shot him, according to officials and friends.
“It was crazy,” said a distraught colleague of Mr Pizarro, who was reserving a parking spot for the film crew’s trucks.
“I didn’t hear any debate or anything.” “It was quiet early in the morning,” said the anonymous colleague. “There was just a pop, and the gunman ran up Nassau Avenue.” I only heard one bang, but I’m not sure how many shots were fired. “I have no idea who would do this or why.”
Janus Czuj, 60, a local, said he thought the crime scene was just for the cameras.
“I woke up this morning and saw the police officers,” Mr Czuj explained. “I assumed it was a staged crime scene. I didn’t consider it a true tragedy…. I was walking the dogs here when I noticed the tape and thought, ‘Oh, it’s a movie.’ But this was a real shooting.”
The motive for the killing was unknown, but police have stated that they are not ruling anything out, including the possibility that it was the result of a parking dispute. Mr Pizarro, of Queens, New York, was shot multiple times in the face and neck, according to officials. He was taken to Woodhull Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 6 a.m., according to police.
Authorities said the suspect fled on foot after the murder and has yet to be apprehended. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. According to police sources, the victim had an arrest record but had been out of trouble since around 2015. His previous arrests included domestic violence and marijuana charges, but the cases have been sealed, according to sources.
“We were terribly saddened and shocked to hear that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and has died as a result,” said NBC and Universal Television in a statement. We are collaborating with local law enforcement as their investigation continues.” Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and we respectfully request that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
According to a friend and coworker of Mr Pizarro, the men’s job was to put up flyers, cones, and park the trucks.
“We’ve been doing it for about five or six years,” he explained. “We arrive 24 hours ahead of time to begin clearing out the parking. We park our trucks and wait for the stars to appear.” The trucks contain props for TV shows and movie scenes.
“We get hassled about parking sometimes, but we work with a lot of people in the communities,” the man explained.
“They talk to us, and we talk to them.” We look at what time you want to leave and, depending on when our trucks arrive, we let them park. That is never too much of a hassle.”
Ian Oberholtzer, 35, a local resident who has lived on the block for 11 years, said he doubted the crime was motivated by a parking dispute.
“At 5 a.m., there are plenty of parking spaces.”
According to Mr Oberholtzer, the block is a popular location for filming the show because it is close to production studios. Tuesday’s shoot was for the third season of the popular show, which stars Chris Meloni and Ainsley Seiger.
“They shoot a lot over here,” he said, referring to the production team. “The parking routine is fairly standard.”
Mr Oberholtzer went on to say that the area is usually quiet and safe.
“It’s not something you’d expect on the block,” he said of the fatal shooting. “I’ve never felt threatened or threatened. I’m worried, but I’m also perplexed.”
A coworker of the deceased said he had known the victim for seven years and described him as “like a brother to me.”
According to the friend, Mr Pizarro left behind a wife, two daughters, and a son.
“He was a great guy, always laughing or making people laugh,” a coworker remarked.
