1 dead, 1 wounded in shooting in Ozone Park, Queens; NYC's first homicide of the year

OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) -- Two brothers from the Bronx were shot, one fatally, as they struggled with armed suspects during an attempted robbery in Queens early Monday, authorities said.

It was New York City's first homicide in 2017.

31-year-old Ricky Kalisaran and his 24-year-old brother Sunny were walking on 124th Street in Ozone Park when they were confronted by two men just before 3:30 a.m.

They had just left the Underground Lounge on 123rd Street and were walking to their car.

"Some people were arguing. Then after that I heard four shots. Then a car came out real quick. Then after that somebody was screaming for help," said Juan Perales, a neighbor.

Police say the two men attempted to rob the brothers and they resisted, getting into a physical struggle with them. One of the men pulled a gun and shot them both.

"I was scared, I told him I was scared because I don't know who is doing this at that hour of the morning," a neighbor said.

Ricky was shot in the chest killed, his brother was shot in the back and rushed to Jamaica Hospital where he is expected to survive.

The men fled the scene in a dark colored sedan.

"The thing is, this is the first time something happened on my block. It's the first time, the gun shots," a resident said.

A similar car crashed into another vehicle at 103rd Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, and detectives are looking into whether the suspects were in that vehicle.

That car then proceeded onto the Belt Parkway and police were not able to find it.

No arrests have been made.

As the first murder of the New Year is recorded, the NYPD is releasing preliminary crime figures for 2016, which show there were 998 shootings. The NYPD says that it a historic low.

The figures also reveal 335 people were murdered during last year. That's down from 352 in 2015.