TROY — "We miss you. We love you."

Those were the words Carlton Daniels spoke aloud Wednesday afternoon as he stood at the scene where his 17-year-old brother, Phillip McMillan, was gunned down the night before near the corner of Ninth and Rensselaer streets in the city's North Central neighborhood.

"I wish that Phillip rests in peace," Daniels said.

Police were interviewing several people Wednesday after a McMillan was wounded in the head Tuesday night in a drive-by shooting. He later died.

Police said McMillan, of Troy, was found lying on the sidewalk after they responded to calls about gunfire in the 300 block of Ninth Street at 10 p.m.

Police Chief John Tedesco said the family notified police early Wednesday afternoon that McMillan died at Albany Medical Center Hospital.

"We have some people we are talking to, but no firm suspects yet," Tedesco said.

Daniels said his brother loved to laugh and have fun, and that he cared a great deal about his appearance.

"It is so sad he will not get to experience a lot of stuff because he was so young," Daniels said. "He had made some mistakes, but he started going back to school and was bouncing back. The person who did this is just another life wasted."

Daniels said his brother's former girlfriend lived in the neighborhood in which the shooting happened, but other than that he had no idea why McMillan was in that area.

Across the street, an evidence marker was placed on the sidewalk in front of 303 Ninth St. There was a small pool of blood nearby. A Dodge van with extensive rear-end damage was parked in front of 305 Ninth St.

"I heard this loud crash and came out thinking someone hit my van," said a man who lives across the street, who did not want to give his name. His vehicle was not involved. "Then I look over there and see this guy lying on the sidewalk," he said.

Tedesco said McMillan was standing on a stoop in that area with a group of others when the car drove by and shots rang out. He added that police do not know the motive for the killing or whether McMillan was the intended target.

"It is just part of the culture of youth today that when they have an argument, they grab a weapon," Tedesco said.

Police found a dark-green Chevrolet Impala allegedly connected with the shooting two blocks away from the scene in a backyard in the 400 block of Sausse Avenue. The vehicle struck at least two parked cars as it fled the scene and is damaged on the front left side. The area around the property where it was found was cordoned off Wednesday as police awaited a warrant so they could search the vehicle.

A woman who resided in the house but did not provide her name said some of her boyfriend's acquaintances dropped the car off for him to fix. "Now he's in trouble because of his friends," the woman said.

The neighborhood has seen recent violence. A block away, 6-year-old Jahvion Perez was hit by a vehicle and killed while several neighbors and family members watched last Memorial Day outside his family's home at 392 10th St. Driver Roy Sanders, who fled the scene, was later sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

Within sight of Tuesday's crime scene, a weatherworn memorial to Keith Levin still stands near the corner of Eighth and Rensselaer streets. Levin was stabbed to death in May 2008 during an argument on the street with former girlfriend Kimberly Mayo, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

"It's sad to say you get used to it, but the best thing you can do is keep these kids safe," said Kertice Arnold, who lives in the neighborhood. "They are too young to be going through this."

McMillan's is the second fatal shooting in the city in the past two weeks. Sha-kim Miller was shot and killed March 8 on Second Street near the intersection with Madison. Allen J. McBee of Watervliet is being held without bail and is charged with felonies stemming from his alleged illegal use and possession of a firearm in connection with the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 270-4423.

bgardinier@timesunion.com • 518-454-5696 • @BobGardinier