When crime drama becomes reality: 'Law & Order' staff member shot, killed in Brooklyn

NBC, the channel that broadcasts 'Law and Order: Organized Crime,' announces that a dramatic event has happened to one of its staff members. The network sent a statement to Variety magazine.

A staff member from the series was murdered in the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. It's a location where the series shoots on a recurring basis.

The events, as Variety points out, happened around 5:15 a.m. in the Brooklyn neighborhood where the series was scheduled to be filmed throughout the day.

The team member, Johnny Pizarro, was 31 years old. He had arrived earlier than the rest of the team in order to reserve parking spaces and keep an eye on the film trucks.

Johnny Pizarro lived in nearby Queens, which made it easier for him to do the surveillance work in the early morning.

As Variety points out, Pizarro was near the set, sitting in his car, when an unknown individual approached his car, opened the door, and fatally shot him.

At the moment, nothing is known about a possible link between the murderer and the victim. The motive is unclear, which means police haven't established whether there was any connection between the murder and the work that Pizarro did for 'Law & Order.'

Witnesses have told the New York Police that the shooter was wearing pants and a black hoodie. It's not much to go on.

NBC and Universal Television have confirmed the facts through a statement. They point out that the police are working to clarify the facts.

"We were terribly saddened and shocked to hear that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and has died as a result," NBC's statement reads.

"We are working with local law enforcement as they continue to investigate," NBC continues.

Finally, NBC says that "our hearts go out to his family and friends, and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time."

Not much is known about Johnny Pizarro, except that he worked for 'Law & Order,' was 31 years old, and lived in Queens.

Working with the series is quite an achievement, even if you're not in the cast. The franchise is 32 years old and world-famous.

'Law & Order: Organized Crime' is one of three series in the 'Law & Order' franchise that NBC currently airs. The others are (simply) 'Law & Order' and 'Special Victims Unit.'

The series is set in New York, and naturally, they are shot regularly on the streets of the Big Apple. For now, however, filming has obviously been paralyzed.