Syracuse shooting victim dies at hospital

Tavorn Hunter, 27, of Syracuse, is fatally wounded Sunday afternoon outside a South Side grocery store.

Mike Greenlar / The Post-StandardSyracuse police investigate the scene of a shooting outside Middle East Market, 1919 S. State St., this afternoon. One man was critically wounded, police said. On the ground is the victim's clothing and medical debris.

Syracuse, NY - A man was killed Sunday afternoon in a shooting outside the Middle East Market in the 1900 block of South State Street, Syracuse police said.

Tavorn Hunter, 27 of Syracuse, was found lying in the road shortly before 5 p.m. He was transported by ambulance to Upstate University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery Sunday night, said Sgt. Tom Connellan. He died at 6:25 p.m.

A witness said the gunman and Hunter were struggling on the ground behind a white SUV, in front of the market. While the men wrestled, the gun went off two or three times, he said.

Connellan said Hunter arrived in the white SUV; the gunman rode up on a bike. There was an argument before the fight. After the shooting, the suspect fled up Elizabeth Street to Garfield Avenue. A Yankees cap and what appeared to be medical debris lay in the northbound lane of State Street.

Police believe other people saw the fight, but left before help arrived. Anyone with information can call investigators at 442-5222.