Elmont woman shot dead in the Bronx

An Elmont woman and a Wisconsin man were shot and killed outside a motel in the Bronx early Saturday morning, according to New York City police.

At about 3:15 a.m., police said, a lone gunman approached Tracy Bennett, 38, of Elmont, and Wayne Hamilton, 50, a resident of Wisconsin, in the parking lot of the Holiday Motel. According to police, the suspect, whom they identified as Joseph Kernizan, 42, shot Hamilton multiple times, then turned to Bennett and shot her before fleeing. According to witnesses, Bennett begged Kernizan not to kill her.

When police arrived on the scene, Bennett and Hamilton were dead and Kernizan had fled. Bennett and Kernizan were listed at the same address in Elmont, but as the Herald went to press, police did not know what prompted the shootings.

Kernizan is described as 5 feet 5 and 220 pounds. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted on the Crime Stoppers Website, www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577.