NYC man fatally shot in head was simply bystander visiting pal, dad says — marking second harmless gunned down in as many days

A younger man fatally shot within the head within the Bronx was an harmless bystander visiting with an out-of-town pal from Detroit, his shell-shocked father informed The Submit Thursday.

The tragic killing of Daoud Marji, a 28-year-old plumber’s apprentice, Wednesday night marked the second time in as many days that an harmless New Yorker was slain in random gun violence on town’s streets.

“What am I going to do? He was my blood,” heartbroken Saed Marji, 56, mentioned from his dwelling in Yonkers.

The grieving dad mentioned he inspired Daoud to not journey to the Bronx, as a result of he heard the realm was unhealthy.

However Marji pressed on, bringing him to College Avenue close to West Kingsbridge Street simply earlier than 5 p.m. — the mistaken place on the mistaken time.

“Then I get a name from a Detroit quantity – ‘Daoud, he acquired shot,’” Saed mentioned, recounting the fateful name.

“I”m a robust man, however I’m shocked. I’ve to deal with my household. My spouse, she’s very unhealthy.”

A trailblazing Harlem bodega proprietor and group fixture — Excenia Mette, 61 — was additionally fatally shot within the head Tuesday when she ran outdoors to verify on her grandson.

The Harlem taking pictures prompted an outcry of grief from a group usually gripped by gun violence.

Barely a day had handed earlier than Marji, too, was randomly gunned down. One other bystander within the Bronx taking pictures — a 33-year-old lady — was additionally shot within the chaos, police mentioned.

The taking pictures unfolded when a shooter or shooters fired bullets in a crowd, law-enforcement sources mentioned.

Marji had immigrated to the US from Jordan when he was a toddler, his father mentioned. He labored as a plumber’s apprentice.

Household pal Ray Khoury, 56, mentioned Marji didn’t have a “unhealthy bone in his physique.”

“He got here when he was very younger from the Center East along with his household, a hardworking household,” Khoury mentioned.

“They at all times helped out the group, particularly Daoud. It’s an awesome loss for our group. He was very outgoing, very useful, very well mannered. Known as everyone uncle or auntie.”