By Curt Brown
Standard-Times staff writer
February 04, 2008 6:00 AM
NEW BEDFORD — A 22-year-old city resident described by police as having gang affiliations was shot to death early Sunday as he sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle at Purchase and Potomska streets.
William Payne was killed when multiple shots were fired into the vehicle about 2 a.m., and a second man was wounded, according to Lt. Jeffrey Silva, public information officer for the Police Department. Police did not identify the second victim, who was seated in the driver's seat and also reportedly has gang ties.
The second victim fled the vehicle and collapsed outside 54 Acushnet Ave., police said. He was transported to St. Luke's Hospital and flown by medical helicopter to an undisclosed Boston hospital with non-life-threatening wounds, Lt. Silva said.
Police said Mr. Payne, whose street name is "Buddha," never left the vehicle.
Mr. Payne's death is the city's second homicide this year. Edwin Medina, 15, was shot once in the abdomen at a New Year's Eve house party at 370 County St. and died days later from his wounds.
Ironically, Mr. Payne discussed how fragile life is at a memorial service two years ago for a friend also killed by gun violence.
"The streets are crazy. All I can say is, the streets are crazy," Mr. Payne said on April 2, 2006, at a service for James Gaouette held at Four-Square Church.
"Things get crazy on the streets," he said. "You never know about tomorrow. I don't want you to have to hear this from my mother."
Lt. Silva said police received a 911 call about shots being fired about 2 a.m.
Although Lt. Silva said the two victims are known to police, he was hesitant about saying their gang involvement was the reason for the shooting.
"It could be a number of motives," Lt. Silva said. "Both clearly have gang affiliations. It does not mean it is gang-related."
Mr. Payne "has been around gang crimes."
He said Sunday night that it is unclear to him whether the victims' vehicle was moving when the shots were fired.
No arrests have been made in the shooting, which is being investigated jointly by city and state police detectives.
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