Police said the fatal shooting happened at about 5:23 a.m. on July 19 in front of an apartment building on North Henry Street off Norman Avenue in Greenpoint. According to WABC-TV, the victim — Johnny Pizarro, 31, a production assistant from Palmetto Street in Ridgewood, Queens — was killed while holding parking spaces on North Henry Street in preparation for filming the hit NBC crime drama series, known for stories. “Ripped from the headlines.” A police source familiar with the case said the victim was enforcing no-parking regulations on the block before the shooting. 94th Precinct officers responding to reports of shots fired found Pizarro shot in the face and neck. After a preliminary investigation, authorities said, detectives determined that Pizarro was sitting inside a parked vehicle when the unidentified gunman walked up, opened the driver’s door to the vehicle and began shooting. A pink “No Parking” sign on North Henry Street, where the shooting took place. Photo by Lloyd MitchellPoice and Crime Scene detectives investigate the fatal shooting of a Law & Order: Organized Crime cast member at North Henry Street and Norman Avenue on Tuesday, July 19. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell Poice and Crime Scene detectives investigate the fatal shooting of a Law & Order Organized Crime production member at North Henry Street and Norman Avenue on Tuesday, July 19. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell The motive for the shooting remains unknown and is being investigated, police sources said. Pizarro is believed to have been the shooter’s intended target, a source familiar with the case said. EMS rushed Pizarro to Woodhull Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Detectives are still searching for the shooter, who is described as a man with a medium build and thin build, about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Throughout the day Tuesday, real life detectives visited North Henry Street, looking for evidence and potential witnesses to the murder. A resident of the neighborhood said local drivers are constantly dealing with film and television production companies that frequent the area and block off blocks to park vehicles and related equipment. “It’s a battle between the production companies and trying to find parking,” the resident said. “They put signs up all the time, production companies put them up all the time. I’m upset that this happened to a production assistant.” NBC and Universal Television released a statement Tuesday mourning the lost crew member: “We were terribly saddened and shocked to learn that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and died as a result. We are working with local law enforcement as they continue their investigation. Our hearts go out to his family and friends and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time.” Anyone with information about the homicide can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential. With a report by Lloyd Mitchell Updated July 19 at 1:50 p.m
