A 23-year-old Guyanese became the first murder victim for the year in the New York town of Schenectady when he was hit by a hail of bullets early Saturday morning  on Maple Avenue.

According to the Albany Times Union, Ganesh Ramgoolam was shot in the head and upper body with a .22-calibre weapon.

The report said that Ramgoolam, who lived elsewhere in Schenectady, arrived in the Vale neighbourhood, on Maple Avenue as a passenger in a car.

He was shot a short distance from the car but it was not immediately clear exactly how far away or how soon after exiting the vehicle he was shot. He was hit by five bullets.

Police learnt of the crime as a result of a 911 emergency call in which the  caller reported hearing gunfire.  The report said authorities are speaking with witnesses who were in the area at the time. Detectives are also looking into a report that another vehicle with multiple occupants, possibly a dark-coloured SUV, was seen leaving the area immediately after the shots were fired.

Police said they are trying to learn more about why the victim was in the neighbourhood.