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But, just as he was going into the family yard, a gunman pounced and he left no doubt about his mission: he shot Saldano a dozen times. We went looking for answers today and Monica Bodden has this report:..

Monica Bodden reporting
26 year old Jovanni Saldano, was killed in his family yard on West Street at a few minutes to one on Sunday.

Lovette Griffith,Family friend/spokeperson
"It's a horrific murder that has occurred and they - the family - are still trying to gather their senses to deal with it. It's a loss that was unexpected. Jovanni, as everybody knows is a jovial, respectful, young man who had no problem with anybody but sometimes unfortunate things happen to good people, and we believe that is the situation that happened yesterday."

"So we ask for prayers for the family, we thank the media for coming by to get their story but at this time the family had ask me to speak so that they can grieve quietly and personally."

Marion Ali, LOVE News
"Has he been having any disputes just prior to the incident?"

Lovette Griffith,Family friend/spokeperson
"No, he hasn't been having any problems. He is not a troublemaker by any means. Anybody that you would ask at random on the streets would tell you that that's a very respectful young man as family and friends are inside right now, all they can say is that they can't believe it because he hasn't had any problem with anybody. He is not a troublemaker, he goes to his work, he comes to his mom every day."

And that's what he was doing on Sunday - but when dinner wasn't ready he went to the corner store to buy a soft drink.

When he got back home, he realized that he had been followed by a gunman - who chased him into the yard - and let off a hail of gunfire - hitting him 12 times, in his chest, neck, back and arm; he died immediately.

Why such a merciless, relentless attack?

Marion Ali, LOVE News
"Was he affiliated or associated in any way with the other side?"

Lovette Griffith,Family friend/spokeperson
"Let me say this outright, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Doesn't matter what the family said at this point, everybody will keep their own opinion. Like I had said earlier, we respectfully ask for prayers for the family. This is a hard time for the family to go through, and Jovanni has never ever been a troublemaker. He never ever had any affiliation as to say that he is a gang member. He has friends all over the place. I have friends who are gang members; so does that make me gang member?"

"So definitely, I would emphatically deny that that isn't so."

And while the family spokesperson strictly denies any gang involvement - we do know that for some time Saldano had been harassed, threatened and even shot after - by gang affiliated persons who control turf nearby.

Police reportedly have the name of a suspect in this case. According to reports, the shooter left someone holding his bike at the corner of King Street went to carry out the killing and then ran back to his bike and rode off.

Saldano had been working at the Housing and Planning Department, and based on his performance had recently been taken on as permanent staff.