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Police have released surveillance video of the suspect wanted in the execution-style slaying of a man near Columbus Circle in New York City at the height of the holiday shopping season Monday afternoon.
Police said Tuesday they were still searching for the gunman who walked up behind Brandon Woodard as he walked through busy midtown Manhattan and shot him in the back of the head outside a Catholic school just before 2 p.m.
Authorities have said they believe the shooting was planned in advance. The surveillance video shows the suspect 10 minutes before the shooting. He was seen getting out of a late model Lincoln sedan, shooting Woodard from behind and then getting back into the vehicle. The car, driven by someone else, sped away, police said.
Police also released a still photograph of the suspect walking up behind Woodard moments before he pulled the trigger.
Woodard, 31, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Shell casings for the silver semi-automatic weapon were found at the scene.
People on the street who heard the gunshot and saw the man fall ran to the firehouse on the block to get help.
"We all flinched because it was so close," said Benny Harris.
A native of Los Angeles, Woodard was most recently living in Chicago, according to public records. He lived in Yucca Valley and Playa Vista in California before that. It's not clear why he was in New York City. Police said Woodard had prior arrests in Los Angeles but had no other details.
Woodard's father told the Daily News he has a young daughter and was enrolled in law school.
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Here we go again!
C'mon man!! Here's another one........ Where you at?! C'mon!!! We just have to get our fill of "BAN HANDGUNS" today just to keep the taste in our mouths..............?............?...........?.....................................................?.............?..?..?
Ugh man.... you must be white.
Ban handguns???
Tell that to the "black" mafia drug lords who obviously whacked him.
GM Creekdog,
he certainly has been slacking today, maybe hes tending his "garden"..or perhaps someone seen his "gun-free zone" sign and stole his computer.......
Bob...you have never run across takenada? new here or not paying attention?
Gee, I figured we would have at least 7 or 8 BAN GUNS comments by now from the usual suspects.
a gang land execution, period, lets ban all firearms for persons convicted of a prior felony(oops we already did that), this was a hit plain and simple; one question not asked, he lived all over the U.S., what job did he hold, where did he live, what were his priors, law enforcement will have to connect the dots.
GM Creek Dog and Scooter
Sounds like y'all are "jonesing" on No Takenaka! LOL
Perhaps y'all should head to Chi-twn as that is where the last batch of Twinkies is being placed on shelves, as I write.
GM Jack
3 hour trip from here, cant make it in time....damn it....maybe one of our old Friends like F.R., Bev, etc. will score us some...i miss my suzy Q's.....those stupid little debbies just dont cut it... also for some reason that little beouch raised her prices, prime example of gouging plain and simple...... guess we will have to get em from the smugglers now that the Mexican "snack cake cartel" is taking over.......
Mornin' jack/Scooter.....
What a coincidence. taken is "actually" AKA for real this time! Heh heh....
"But" in this case, it's a good thing. ;-)
See? Now noone will jump on this because all you gun nutz are banded together.
To Jonathan Dienst, Shimon Prokupecz and Brynn Gingras. It's the height of the Christmas shopping season you jack ass's.
Lets see a car parked waiting for the shooter to take them away from the scene of the crime (aka getaway vehicle) only one person shot from behind in broad daylight no more more victims at the scene. Just how did it take trained detectives manage to figure out that this was planned?
He wasn't smart enough to be the professional. It was a very poor choice. I want to know who gave this stupid dude the job.
You REALLY want to know? Not me. ;)
Pistol Instructor,
Have you seen takenaka?
Also, by your comment, I'm not sure if you're anti-NRA or not but, your name suggests you're not.
Very good man. I'm all for the 2nd Amendment and love all my guns so don't get me wrong about my posts. It's basically an inside joke if you haven't been following along lately. I never did see you around before so i fugured that...
On another note, what the hell do you mean by your post anyway?! Please let me know. Thanks...
CD
I still have a hard time getting my head around the thought of gun control. Gun control would only work for the “law-abiding citizens” that are willing to turn in their guns, but you know
the thugs/criminals won’t turn their guns in… does that make us ( the
law-abiding citizens ) more safe or less safe?
What most people fail to see or think about, is that when you take guns away from
law-abiding citizens, the only people carrying guns will be people that have a
blatant disregarded for the law ( lawless thugs ) and the police. And we all
know that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away! Don’t just give
up your gun rights because you THINK you will be more safe without them! Help
protect your family and your community… stand up for your 2nd amendment rights!
Wake Up People!
WHAT RACE WAS THE PERPETRATOR? WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY HOW. THIS IS HOW YOU REPORT A STORY. Hoodie or no hoodie, you can tell the race from many other things. Im tired of having these stories muffled because some people dont want us to know what the race of people are. They are soft peddling the news. Race is the BEST initial description you can give about someone criminal or not.
P.S. We're not giving up our guns. We'd rather fight a civil war than to let that happen. The Supreme Court needs and should hand down a decision that they are NOT going to listen to any further gun control Arguments at least till a new amendment to the constitution concerning guns is made.
Stop being so mad, Getmadstaymad. No credible people are saying you should give up your legally owned guns. None. Really. Can you imagine? Anyway, instead of getting so upset about the fight that you mess yourself, try to come up with ideas that keep people from getting killed without affecting your rights as a gun owner. That's not so hard, is it?
PS. The race is notimportant other than as a means to identify the perp. WTF?
Gettin' Grity nailed it absolutely dead on!
We've been saying this for years to the ant-NRA people that actually "blame" the NRA for gun related murders. "BAN HANDGUNS" Pffft! C'mon man, give us a break already.....
It's like blaming Stroehman Bread Company for someone who died choking to death on a sandwich. Then it would be like "BAN BREAD!" Heh heh
Thanks Gettin' Grity. "Wake up people!"
My other above comments were just sarcasm and most of you know that.
Creek Dog,
I definitely support the 2nd amendment! I was just being sarcastic and silly. Anytime I see a story involving guns & crime I love to read the comments. I don't comment often but I'm generally amused by peoples comments regarding the 2nd amendment a constitutional rights in general. The "Chief Justice" yesterday that suggested the 2nd Amendment only refers to rifles and therefore handguns are not covered under the 2nd Amendment was quite the scholar.
I initially started on here for research on a sociology paper I had to write (if you have a G.I. bill USE IT!) Got a great grade on "Isolationism in the Social Network Age"
At any rate, I'll be around....shaking my head or laughing uncontrollably ........ probably both.
Good to meet you Creek Dog
As I understand it there are already plenty of laws on the books, but because of NRA bullying those laws are not enforced. We need to outlaw direct sales from one individual to another is what we need, my guess is that is how the shooter got his gun, it didn't come from a store (unless it was stolen because of poor security).
I am not against handgun ownership just against the ease at which they can be obtained.
"See? Now noone will jump on this because all you gun nutz are banded together."
Your handle should be "Hypocrite Pistol Instructor".
Find out who he pissed off and you'll find out who whacked him.
A history of armed robbery and burglary. Going to law school . . . seems like he's expanding his repertoire . . .
But in all seriousness, if the guy was still doing his old job breaking into people's houses and stealing stuff, this one is pretty simple: he broke into the wrong house or jacked a necklace off the wrong white woman . . . this has white mob written all over it and is not about him - there is a message being sent from one crew to another. You don't do public like this unless its a message- the shooter is probably either soon to be found in the Meadowlands or is on a plane someplace warm. The black gangs also tend to be a little less subtle - they'll shoot you in a drive by and take out 20 or 30 other people along the way. . . .
This was mob with a message . . .
[put this in the wrong section earlier]
Doesn't this hit man know its illegal for him to have that gun. Its against the law so it didn't happen.
Gang related maybe?
Sleep walking maybe?
gee...who'd want to shoot this dude?
...looks like a nice guy to me
He wasn't smart enough to be the professional. It was a very poor choice. I want to know who gave this stupid dude the job.
Find out who he pissed off and you'll find out who whacked him.
A history of armed robbery and burglary. Going to law school . . . seems like he's expanding his repertoire . . .
But in all seriousness, if the guy was still doing his old job breaking into people's houses and stealing stuff, this one is pretty simple: he broke into the wrong house or jacked a necklace off the wrong white woman . . . this has white mob written all over it and is not about him - there is a message being sent from crew to another. You don't do public like this unless its a message- the shooter is probably either soon to be found in the Meadowlands or is on a plane someplace warm. The black gangs also tend to be a little less subtle - they'll shoot you in a drive by and take out 20 or 30 other people along the way. . . .
This was mob with a message . . .
If he was enrolled in law school, it seems strange he would be involved in a gang. There might be something going on with the mother of the child. One would think, if he was trying to put his life in order and do right by his daughter, another issue was going on. How really sad, that his little girl has lost her father. I hope they catch this cold blooded killer and put him away for good.
Lawyers involved in illegal activity? Naahhh, that could never happen.
One would think that if he was trying to put his life in order that perhaps the implication is that his life was out of order.
Windancersong: Your story touched my heart. Sniff, sniff, I think I'm going to cry. BURP.
read the dam story. it did'nt say he was going to law school
Since he was shot in the back of the head as the person walked behind him maybe it was just a mistaken Identity or just picked out completely at random.
Once you're in the game, it's not so easy to just walk away.
Windancer,
Wow, not used to your post 'not" being first. Slacking a bit?! :-)
Mornin' Bill...
dennis waugh, the last sentence of the article states that his father said he was enrolled in law school so winddancersong did read the story.
"Woodard's father told the Daily News he has a young daughter and was enrolled in law school."
LA, Chicago, and now New York. Ticked someone off along the way. Funny how that stuff comes back
dennis waugh
"read the dam story. it did'nt say he was going to law school."
"... Woodard's father told the Daily News he has a young daughter and was enrolled in law school."
I guess being enrolled in law school, and going to law school are technically not the same thing, but ...
oh, nevermind Dennis, you probably wouldn't understand anyhow.
dennis, why don't you try reading the LAST SENTENCE of the story.
now now guys...dont be tapping on the glass too hard......he did after all get past the headline....maybe....
Everyone who disagres with Dennis doesn't understand English!!!!!! He had a young DAUGHTER in law school. He was not enrolled in law school! Dennis is correct!
D Gen
Actually you seem to be the one having a problem with English, the word "and" in particular-
"Woodard's father told the Daily News he has a young daughter AND was enrolled in law school."
The story also mentions that he was 31 years old, surely you can't believe a 31 year old could have a daughter who is in law school. Could you?
D Gen, the man was only 31, so how old do you think his law student daughter is? The sentence structure does not indicate that the father was saying she was a student. He would have said he has a young daughter who was enrolled in law school, instead of he has a young daughter and was enrolled in law school.
Okay, so somebody wan't paying attention during "Schoolhouse Rock"...
Conjunction Junction, what's your function?
Hooking up
words and phrases and clauses.
Conjunction Junction, how's that
function?
I got three favorite cars
That get most of my job
done.
Conjunction Junction, what's their function?
I got
"and", "but", and "or",
They'll get you pretty far.
Whether he was in law school or not is irrelevant. He's dead and his daughter is growing up without her dad. Try to keep your eye on the ball people. This is a tragedy and you all are bickering over the most meaningless part of the story.
Yep. Revenge. Maybe the little girl's momma, or someone else who resented his effort to achieve his goals.
WOW ...who to congratulate first on this article, the in depth reporter or the cop who checked this guys wallet?.....Seriously that is the total sum of the article at this point. a guy who was shot, was identified and a suspect is at large....fine fine journalism and police work... congratulations to all of those involved.....
piecemeal reporting, dont ya just love it?........remember ...
"holy-cat claws batman what do we do now" ...have patience boy wonder if i can only reach my utility belt".....and then......"how, oh how will the dynamic duo escape the evil clutches of the catwomans claws? ....be sure to tune in next week for the answers....same bat time same bat channel"?...dudadudadudadudadudadudaduda... BATMAN!!! .........
same thing.....
gm Tramp
Don't be so hard on the authorities. They have greatly narrowed the list of suspects by identifying the shell casings they found as coming from a "silver semi-automatic weapon." They are much less common than the stainless steel ones.
Right on, that's almost as bad as this one.
"Authorities believed the shooting was planned in advance."
No $hit Sherlock. If that wasn't a paid hit there never ever has been one.
GM Bill, Rider,
of course it was silver....they drove a Lincoln for their get away car,... now i ask you... what kinda self respecting hit man would use a stainless one? Probably had pearl handle grips to boot, probably not classy enough for ivory or the would have used a Bentley or a Jag for the get away.
Right on Tramp, You know what Gen Patton said, pearl handles are for pimps. LOL
GM Denver Bill
"Hi Hyo Silver" - oh wait, that was the horse, and that was "yester-year". However, a clue to the solid case and initial investigation proving that the gun killed the victim!
Obviously a professional assassination by someone with knowledge of NYC and surrounding area. The assassin had to know where the victim was, where he was going and why, then position the car at the exact right spot to allow the getaway. Probably a stolen car with stolen plates, and a driver very familiar with NYC traffic. If they recover the car, they won't get anything off it, but it is probably chopped and on a truck to Mexico already. The gun is probably a 'community property' gun from the Chicago area, and is already in the East River.
Very good observation/explanation. I would say that you are right on the money.
Legal weapon, I'm sure
Yeah right, all professional hits use legal weapons. LOL
sarc...rider......
We should fire all investigative police officers and judges and just let the MSN commenters read snippets about every case and come to a brilliant, unflawed, and absolutely positive conculsion.
Another day in NYC. Serious crime takes place everyday. Why they want to highlight this one is a mystery. Murder and robbery, rape to name a few is the normal way of life. What a joke.
According to the news this morning, he was scheduled to appear in court soon on a cocaine charge. So it wouldn't be a far stretch to imagine that someone was afraid he would do some talking to get out of the charge or to get a lessor charge. So I'm thinking drug related.
He probably was busted with the same kee he ripped from the assasins boss.
Very Professional, if this was an Olympic Sport I'd give them a 9.5 and deducted a few points for the Security camera video.
naw rank amateur at best... while he did display a certain amount of style and raw skills ... the i.d., car, video, witness's ...combine and provide for a truly sloppy performance ...hell he gets a 2.5 with me...back to you ron...
One less criminal to worry about.
no more tax payers money for a trial
So the shooter isn't a criminal? He doesn't need to be prosecuted because this guy did cocaine?? You guys are morbid and disgusting.... Hope you don't ever make a bad choice and get more punishment than you deserve... Hope your children don't either. Because with attitudes like that, your children are doomed in the real world!
From Ca,Chicago and now NY.I wonder just who he po'd.Someone was watching this guy for awhile..
east coast don't like west coast on their turf.
To walk up to someone and just shoot them in the head for no reason is someone who wants you dead. I agree this was an assassination of some sort. Poor guy didn't know what hit him.
what do you mean poor guy,, f--k him. sounds like a drug dealer to me
The devil is so bold. This is a professional killer who has killed before. Who else would be so bold.
A drug dealer. A loan shark. A po'd pimp. A regular everyday thug. An idiot. A sociopath. The possibilities are endless.
well he was after all enrolled in law school, that makes it sound like he probably had a minor in political science as well......
A black gang thug from LA shot in NY who knew? who cares no great loss to society. Saves the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars putting the coward in jail.
Your spelling and grammar are TERRIBLE. You should be prohibitted from posting. I would be ashame to post writing this terrible. You MUST be from West Virginia or Kentucky.
i agree but what in the story led you to beleave he was a coward.
Your grammar isn't any better. You used "ashame" when it should be "ashamed".
@ dmill.... If you're going to play grammer cop you got to be perfect yourself. You should know that a sentence should never be started with " I ". You felt offended by CDP's posting, and felt the need to attack, however; there's this thing in the USA called the Constitution.
dmill is practicing eubonics and at the same time criticizing someone else's spelling and grammar. LMFAO!!! Idiot.
dmill-3826165....I see two errors in your spelling. Glass houses.
@dennis.....Uhh, maybe because he was traipsing all over the country running from the people he ripped?
dmill...you are an idiot racist. why don't you crawl back into your mommies womb and stay there.
@7.62x39mm : I know this is getting way off base, but you may want to check your English book. There is absolutely nothing wrong with beginning a sentence with the word "I". A great number of sentences begin with that word. I think you should study some more. I know I'm right. I like butterscotch pudding.
Thanks, David... I was planning to say that!
Man who was shot in broad daylight......is the author implying that people should only be shot at night????. Would this crime somehow be less evil if it occured on a dark stormy night.
Would "in a crowd of people" make more sense to you? Really, I mean, murderers usually don't want to be seen. Understand now?
No, please explain the mindset of a murderer to me.
The reporter never claimed that this crime was more evil, where does this come from?
Being shot in broad daylight on a crowded busy street makes this more news worthy. It does not make it more evil, but the news doesn't report the most evil just what is more unusual or thought to be of more interest to the readers. That's why you often see misleading and outlandish headlines on stories, it's all about grabbing attention.
Had this taken place at night, or in The Bronx, it would've been on page 29B...or wouldn't have made the paper at all.
Black men are murdered daily and they never receive this amount of attention. It's obvious he was an informant or gang related. On second thought, gang killings don't receive headline news. At least it wasn't a cop shooting or that crazy "stand your ground" killing in Fla.
why would we give a crap most are killed by a black that is what they do all day.They don't have to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ithinkobmasucks, kiss my hemorrhoids you ignorant racist slug. If you spent less time conjuring up racist thoughts and tried to learn something, you could comment on stories like this without writing a triple run-on sentence.
Shot by a silver automatic - should be easy to find, they don't make too many silver ones. Good thing it wasn't nickel plated....But they probably know the killer's name:
Bam, Bam Maxwell's silver blammer shot him in the head...
LMAO!!!!
Wow, with super sleuths like you guys, I wonder why the case is not already solved and the perpertrators in jail. Mathuin, you watch entirely too many television crime dramas. Winddancersong, I did not realize you knew the victim personally. Sorry for your loss. You guys are funny!
Oh stop it with the seriousness already!
Cholitos, all. Well, now we're getting somewhere. Thinning out the ranks of lawyers BEFORE some even graduate and work their craft. But abanksone probably has it right. If you're in law school, plan on going straight after a life of at least some crime, a conviction tends to rain a little on your parade. These are just the type of deals DA's love. Every one wins. Law student stoolie can still sit for the bar, perps easily get long sentences and may even sing further in the process, DA looks clever, and more room is made for new blood in the blow trade. Smooth and beautiful. What a country. Aa.
Yea..this might be related to money or drugs..he was set up and this is a hit! They knew this guy and waited for their chance to off him.
or it "might be" this guy simply didnt want to sit next to him on the "rature bus" come the 21st.......
Don't be so hard on him he could have got welfare and a free phone from his buddy obama.
This comment is supposed to be smart or clever? Really, you are just showing off your stupidity.
Still crying that your corporate overlord Romney is not emptying out your grandmother's social security account with the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adleson as Off-shorer-in-Chief?
Get over it already, Don Draper; America has spoken and the crochety old white man vote lost.
The irony is Bush started the phone give away program...
News reports have said he has been arrested on drug related charges. Sounds like drug and gang related mob type hit. Very sad that this is going on in our country. My condolences to his family and especially his child!
So sad! Live by the sword, die by the sword!
It goes on in every country.
he will be caught and it will be over no fear I think they got a good pic of him but still watch out people he is still on the lose. peace TheDR.
Don't count on it Sherlock, professional hit men are masters of disguise.
This is bogus, firearms are outlawed in NYC.
"This is bogus, firearms are outlawed in NYC"
This is the reason why the "ban guns" idea doesn't work.