After 'Law & Order' crew member shot, friends and neighbors mourn and criticize police action

At 5:15 a.m. Tuesday morning in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood, Johnny Pizarro was working on the Law & Order: Organized Crime team. Pizarro, who was part of the security and parking services, was approached by a suspect who opened his car door and shot him. Following Pizarro's murder, Variety spoke to several friends and community members close to the crime scene, many of whom were shaken by the sudden outburst of violence.

Cisco, a colleague of Pizarro who says he has known him since college, was shocked by the incident. He said Pizarro was devoted to the six children he was raising in Ridgewood, Queens.

"He was a good guy, not a troublemaker," Cisco said. “It's the safest neighborhood of the five boroughs. New York City is unpredictable."

Although the production was canceled for the day and pedestrians were kept away from the crime scene, several people who said they were part of Pizarro's inner circle remained nearby, shocked by the how a crime like this could happen in their neighborhood. and speculate on the motive.

As officers moved in and out of the scene, in which Pizarro's still running car was wrapped in duct tape, many bystanders, who were unwilling to use their names for fear of reprisal, criticized the investigation .

"They want to know what's going on? We want to know what's going on!" one said, with another offering, "These cops are assholes, man."

As with any neighborhood uproar, speaking with locals sparked many unsubstantiated rumors about the shooter's motive and issues that may have sparked the violence.

Many residents reported that they considered their neighborhood peaceful, even idyllic in an urban way, before the murder. However, a local business owner said he was disappointed to set up shop in a part of town he now has to reconsider his safety in.

To help ease some of the day's anxiety, Church of Christ in Greenpoint, a local congregation just a few doors down from the shooting, has opened its doors for the day for counsel and prayers .

This Greenpoint fragment has made frequent appearances in movies and shows. In addition to 'Law & Order: Organized Crime', neighbors also remember recent productions such as 'FBI', 'FBI: Most Wanted', 'FBI: International' and 'Blue Bloods' filmed nearby.

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A community member, who asked to remain anonymous, said crews sometimes use their hospitality with locals by occupying parking spots in the neighborhood for days at a time.

A member of the 'Law & Order: Organized Crime' team, who also wished to remain anonymous, said, "No one has taken care of this. It's devastating."

City Hall Press Secretary Fabien Levy shared a statement with Variety about the incident.

"The safety of all New Yorkers is our top priority. No shooting is okay, which is why we work every day to remove illegal weapons from the streets of New York," the statement read. NYPD is actively investigating the shooting death of a "Law and Order: Organized Crime" crew member early this morning. We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the victim during this difficult time, and we will work diligently to bring the suspect to justice and stem the tide of gun violence we are witnessing. »

Additional photos taken by Variety at the scene are below.

Antonio Farm / Variety