For the third time in six weeks, a life was cut short in Norwood, leaving grief-stricken family to plan for a funeral as detectives at the 52nd Precinct hunt for a killer. It’s the precinct’s third homicide this year, surpassing last year’s total homicide rate at the Five-Two.

According to police, more than a dozen teens were holding a pre-summer barbecue at just after midnight on May 29, in the courtyard of a building along DeKalb Avenue and East 212th Street, when a fight broke out and a knife was plunged into the chest of 18-year-old Damion C. Gilbert, Jr. of Williamsbridge. Unlike the two recent homicides, Gilbert was a permanent resident of the Bronx. After all, he grew up in the neighborhood.

Gilbert staggered across the street and collapsed outside of 3572 DeKalb Ave., a half-dozen bystanders and friends, some of whom were crying, attempted to give aid until paramedics arrived.

One police source said, “They discovered an 18-year-old male laying face up suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was then transported to Montefiore Hospital and was pronounced dead at 12:54 a.m.” Neighborhood sources told the Norwood News that the murder weapon was tossed under a parked car and retrieved by police.

Another police source said  there was  a dispute and fight between the two in a building lobby that night.

“The fight breaks up and Pine leaves. But he comes back holding a jacket with a knife hidden under it. He stabs Gilbert and runs away,” said the source. “There were a lot of people on the street, and they knew Pine, and helped ID him.”

On June 4, 52nd Precinct Community Affairs officer Stephen Echevarria reported, “There has been a suspect identified in the stabbing on DeKalb, there is a suspect,” but later stated that the NYPD will not be releasing that name until the individual is in custody.

Echevarria was asked if there were any special deployments of officers planned. He replied, “Not sure, usually when these things kind of happen when the summer comes about, we usually get more officers on the street.”

“He was an awesome kid with the greatest smile you could ever remember. He loved life and everything about it,” said Davis.

Davis’ sister Tikia Beckford recalled, “Even people that we don’t know, they’re just walking up to us saying how respectful he was and how he always had the biggest smile on his face. He was a lovable kid and it’s just sad how his life was taken away so fast, snatched away from him.”

“His mother is grieving and it’s a lot on his family. He has two siblings–one is 13 and the other is seven–and they’re really struggling to deal with this,” Beckford added.

The family’s heartbreak continues after the New York Post obtained a horrifically graphic video that shows the mortally wounded Gilbert slipping off the gurney and falling, nearly hitting the concrete floor. The Post reported that the two unidentified paramedics have been taken off active duty, but are not facing an investigation.

A wake for Gilbert will be held at the Unity Funeral Home located at 2352 Fredrick Douglass Blvd. in Manhattan on June 8 between 3 and 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on June 9 at 10 a.m., at the Salem Methodist Church, located at 2190 Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., also in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, police have identified the victim shot inside an apartment at 3152 Hull Ave. on April 23 as Rommel Goode, 38, of Brooklyn. Officials also announced the arrest of Derrick Johnson, 31, also of Brooklyn. Johnson was charged with murder, assault and possession of a weapon.

Police continue to search for suspects Tyrone Frank and accomplice Tanisha Banks after Frank chased down and shot Dwayne Saunders, 37, hitting him at least twice as he ran for his life along East 209th Street on May 1.

At a recent 52nd Precinct Community Council Precinct meeting, Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Peter Fiorillo noted that most of the violent crimes he’s seeing in the area is violence being carried out by acquaintances. Fiorillo previously told residents, “We can’t patrol your homes and you don’t want us to.”

Additional reporting by Bob Kappstatter. 

Editor’s Note: The family of Damion C. Gilbert Jr. has set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs. Anyone can donate at http://bit.ly/2LqNjdR.