PORTLAND — Portland police continue to try to determine what connection a homicide victim has to the city, and what he was doing Saturday night just before he was killed.

An autopsy has been performed on the 22-year-old New York man, but the State Medical Examiner has not confirmed his identity yet.

Additional Photos

Two Portland police officers are posted outside the entrances to 55 Allen Ave. on Sunday morning after a 22-year-old man was shot to death there earlier. Melanie Creamer/Staff Writer

The man was found in an Allen Avenue apartment around 3:30 a.m. Sunday with a fatal gunshot wound.

Police are seeking any witnesses to the shooting or anyone who might have information about the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 874-8533.

12:20 a.m.

PORTLAND – A 22-year-old man from New York was shot and killed early Sunday at an apartment complex where he was living on Allen Avenue. Police are characterizing the shooting as a homicide.

Portland police responded to a 911 caller who reported one person had been shot at 55 Allen Ave. around 3:40 a.m.

Police found the victim in an apartment. Emergency rescue workers provided aid to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police detectives have tentatively identified the victim and have contacted his next of kin but would not release his name. Portland Police Lt. Don Krier said the state Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy and confirm the victim’s identity.

Police had not yet made any arrests in the case Sunday. Krier said police were still seeking witnesses.

Several neighbors said that after the shooting, a man was seen running behind 53 Allen Ave., a neighboring apartment building. Police searched for suspects in the immediate area, but none was found.

Police were posted outside the two front entrances to 55 Allen Ave. on Sunday morning as several children peeked out the windows of the multi-unit complex.

Neighbors who had gathered outside the next-door complex at 53 Allen Ave. said they were shocked but not surprised to learn of the shooting. Some said the area has become home to late-night parties, fighting and drinking.

Ali Al-Anizi of Portland said he was visiting a friend at the apartment building Saturday night and saw about 20 people outside the building drinking and listening to music. He said he left around 2 a.m., before the shooting occurred.

“This place is dangerous,” Al-Anizi said. “In the past couple of years, there’s been a lot of drugs and a lot of drama.”

Diaa Hussin of 53 Allen Ave. is a native of Iraq who moved to the United States from Syria in 2008. He said he was sleeping at the time of the shooting. He said if there’s another problem in the neighborhood, he will move.

“I don’t like the killing,” Hussin said, with Al-Anizi translating for him. “It’s what I saw in Iraq. It’s not right. The building is drama. Sometimes we can’t sleep. They party all night.”

Shari Kitto of 53 Allen Ave. said she didn’t hear the shooting. Kitto moved into the apartment complex three weeks ago with her 13-year-old daughter.

“I’m a little scared for her, my daughter. I know it happens everywhere, but it’s just a little too close for my taste,” Kitto said.

Mary Crawford of 57 Allen Ave. said she couldn’t remember such a violent incident happening in the neighborhood in the 11 years during which she has been living there.

“Oh my God, no,” Crawford said after learning of the shooting. “You can’t run from trouble. It could happen anywhere.”

People who have information about the case are asked to call Portland police at 874-8539.

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at:

mcreamer@pressherald.com

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