A 7-year-old girl walking down a Harlem street with her father was shot Monday afternoon as gunfire erupted outside a nearby park, police and witnesses told the Daily News.
The innocent bystander, shot in the abdomen, was rushed by police officers to Harlem Hospital in stable condition, cops said. The shooting happened near a Starbucks at 2:52 p.m. at W. 145th St. and Bradhurst Ave.
Two men have been taken into police custody, Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press conference. The suspects are 17 and 19 and police believe the shooting was gang related.
“Clearly, Our hearts go out to the family. We wish her a speedy recovery. It’s never a good thing when a child or any innocent bystander is a victim,” Adams said. “We’re going to see this through to justice.”
Witnesses described a chaotic scene.
“There were about six to eight shots in quick succession. The police were holding the baby, rushing her to a patrol car, the dad and a woman were running behind them. He was crying. He said, ‘I’m her dad,’ said witness Angel Casanova, 30.
“When the people knew it was a seven year old girl, you could hear a pin drop. She was in shock. I guess the pain didn’t hit her yet. Her dad was crying and praying to God. It’s frustrating, it’s heartbreaking,” he added.
An eyewitness told the Daily News that she saw two men chasing a third man out of a nearby park when one of the pursuers shot his gun.
“There were three guys who ran out of the park. One of them was shooting as he ran,” the witness said. “They didn’t hit anybody but the little girl. It was horrible,” she said.
The girl was walking with her father when she was hit, NYPD Chief Brian Gill said at a press briefing.
Two men “both fire rounds eastbound, striking the female,” Gill said. “There were two intended people they were firing at. We believe it’s gang-related. Two males were apprehended. One had a firearm. We are currently looking for a second weapon,” Gill said.
“She was on the ground. She was bleeding, but she was pretty calm and talking. The cops were waiting for EMS but people started making a fuss, so they picked her up and put her in their car and went,” a 40-year-old trainer at the gym told The News.
“I chased the two dudes running, but they got away,” he added.
Another witness said he saw one of the men toss the gun over a fence.
“I saw the kid throw the gun over the fence. It was a black gun cocked back,” said Gerrard, who works for the parks department and declined to give his last name. “It was just two guys running.”
___
© 2024 New York Daily News
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
