DEAF-MUTE SLAIN

From: New York Post - Jan 24, 2004

By ALISHA BERGER, PHILIP MESSING and ADAM MILLER

January 24, 2004 -- A beloved 24-year-old deaf-mute Brooklyn man was brutally gunned down during an apparent robbery early yesterday as he waited for a bus to take him home after a late night of basketball with pals, police said.

Because of his handicap, tragic Kevin Lazare may not have even known what was happening to him: He was shot in cold blood three times in the back at the corner of Rockaway and Hegeman avenues in Brownsville at about 1:40 a.m.

He was found with less than $10 in his pocket, police said.

"He was a really good kid," his grieving mom, Kathleen Lazare Mano, 44, said from the family's East New York home.

Lazare's stepdad, Kenneth Mano, 41, said he handed his stepson $10 as the young man headed out the door shortly after 6 p.m. to go play ball and then added in sign language, "Make sure you get home safe."

"He was fun-loving," Mano said. "He had never been in any trouble."

"Everybody loved Kevin," Kathleen Mano added. "He was born deaf and mute, but that didn't stop him from doing anything. He was a darling. He would help you even if he didn't know you."

Lazare, who pals said was an avid Knicks fan, had just finished playing basketball after-hours in the gym at a nearby recreation center and was waiting for the bus when the suspect approached and opened fire, police said.

A cop on patrol nearby rushed to Lazare's side after hearing the gunfire.

Lazare - who had been shot through his right lung, aorta and right kidney - was dead on arrival at Brookdale Hospital.

In an eerie twist, Lazare's biological dad, Samuel King, was shot dead in a robbery in their native Trinidad about two weeks ago, according to family members.

Yesterday afternoon, Lazare's distraught family set up a makeshift shrine at the spot where he was fatally shot, after painstakingly scrubbing away the dried blood.

"Who would want to hurt Kevin?" family friend Steve Gomez said. "Everyone who met him fell in love with him."

Gomez said the victim "played basketball every day."

Kareem Mano, 12, said he really "admired" his stepbrother.

"He was a loving brother," Kareem said. "I hope the police catch the criminals who killed my brother."

Lazare's stepsister, Kenya Mano, 9, said Kevin was "so nice."

"He'd take me anyplace I wanted to go," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

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