LORAIN — When Rachel Asencio drove toward her home in South Lorain early Monday, she saw a commotion involving police cars and a crowd.

She didn’t know that her son Bryant Eddie Ortiz, 33, was lying shot to death in a driveway at 1816 E. 37th St. after, police say, an argument at nearby Ray’s Memory Lane bar on Pearl Avenue.

Another son, Mark Silva, had cradled his brother in his dying moments after a man emerged from the shadows, glared at Bryant Ortiz and fired.

Mark Silva begged his brother to live, asking, “What am I going to tell Mom?”

Bryant Ortiz was dead before police officers in two cruisers in the area arrived after hearing shots, according to Lorain police Sgt. Mark Carpentiere.

Mark Silva declined to describe the shooter in much detail, but he said it was obvious his brother was the intended target.

“The guy came out of nowhere — onto the sidewalk,” Silva said. “He didn’t look at me — his eyes were on my brother.”

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information. Anyone who saw or knows anything is asked to call Lorain police Detective Dennis Moskal at (440) 204-2139.

Moskal said it is believed the shooting stems from an argument inside or outside the bar.

Carpentiere said details are sketchy on the shooter and declined to give a description of the suspect.

“He (Ortiz) got into an argument with someone inside the bar, the arguments spilled outside where he continued to argue with this man. He was shot and killed and the suspect ran from the scene,” Carpentiere said.

Police said they are not disclosing details such as how many times Ortiz was shot — or what kind of gun was used — in order to better gauge the veracity of statements made by any suspect or witness.

Coroner Paul Matus said police arrived about two minutes after the shooting was reported at 1:23 a.m. and found that Ortiz was already dead.

The autopsy was completed later Monday but results of drug and alcohol tests are not yet unavailable.

Ortiz’s family said he had some troubles with the law in the past, but had been trying to turn his life around. He worked at odd jobs but hoped to someday make it in the music business. His Facebook page showed an interest in rap. His family said he volunteered his time helping coaches in youth baseball.

Ortiz also loved to play softball and played outfield for Kiki’s Night Club and C&M Signs, according to Danny Rodriguez, a cousin.

The father of three children — Jazzlyn, 17, Andrew, 14, and Savannah, 8, Ortiz had a wonderful sense of humor, according to Rodriguez.

“Even the umpires would laugh — he was energetic,” said Rodriguez, who played alongside his cousin.

Rodriguez, coach of the Lorain Youth Baseball AMVETS team, said his cousin helped him with the youngsters and had a real knack with working with the young athletes.

The mere mention of Ortiz’s name brought tears to the eyes of Rodriguez’s sons, Daniel, 12, and David, 11.

Despite his young life, Ortiz touched many people, according to Jessica Cortez, a friend of the family.

“He was a big inspiration to these kids,” Cortez said of the young boys he helped coach.

Meanwhile, Asencio welcomed into her home dozens of friends and family who came with gifts such as food and white roses.

The killer put a terrible hole in the close-knit Puerto Rican family, said Asencio, who has four surviving sons, ages 29 to 42.

“He was a very lovable son,” she said.

Ortiz’s record

• 1993: felony grand larceny, New York
• 1994: felony drug abuse, Lorain County
• 2001: driving under suspension and no lighted plates
• 2002: misdemeanor domestic violence
• 2009: pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence, possession of drugs, aggravated menacing, and was awaiting sentencing

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.