NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Police were searching for clues late Friday after a man and woman were found shot to death inside a vehicle in East New York, Brooklyn.

It happened around 4:43 a.m. on Cleveland Street just off Linden Boulevard in East New York. Officers found the driver, identified as 27-year-old Devon Hannibal, and the front seat passenger, 23-year-old Christina Stubbs, with gunshot wounds inside a red Dodge Durango.

As CBS2’s Ali Bauman reported, the driver’s side window of the maroon sport-utility vehicle was left shattered by nearly a dozen bullet holes.

“Like a war zone – yeah, actually like a war zone,” said witness Donna Llanos, who heard the gunshots.

Hannibal, of Brooklyn, and Stubbs, of Pompano Beach, Florida, were both pronounced dead on the scene. Hannibal was shot several times, while Stubbs was killed by a single bullet.

“All the shell casings are on the driver’s side of the car,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce. “He is the intended target.”

Investigators have been sifting through surveillance video on the block. They believe the couple had been at a nightclub across the street on Linden Boulevard, but left without any trouble.

“We spoke to one of the security agents there,” Boyce said. “He says there were no problems prior to that.”

Mourners, too distraught to speak, met with detectives at the scene hours into the investigation, CBS2’s Bauman reported. Meanwhile, residents and local leaders are asking when such violence in the neighborhood will come to an end.

“Of course you have to be scared if you’re not safe,” said resident John James.

“Unfortunately, when the sun goes down, the guns come out,” said New York State Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn). “We’re just pained by summertime bringing this type of devastation.”

“I travel here every day coming from work, and we need police presence,” added Llanos. “If that’s the case, this is what’s going to be happening, we need more police presence in this area.”

Hannibal’s family did not want to talk on camera, but told CBS2 he was a father to two sons.

Police said the suspect ran away and was last seen in a white T-shirt and red shorts.

Police said the gunman used a 9mm handgun. Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call police.