NEW YORK CITY, New York- In a tragic incident in the Bronx, a 71-year-old woman lost her life to a stray bullet during a midday shooting on Thursday. Another woman, aged 34, was also injured in the incident, which police believe may be linked to gang activity.
The fatal shooting occurred in the Mott Haven neighborhood, a bustling commercial area of the Bronx. The elderly woman was struck in the back by a stray bullet, while the younger woman sustained an arm injury. Both victims were rushed to Lincoln Medical Center, where the older woman was pronounced dead. The younger woman’s injuries were not life-threatening, according to police reports.
The incident unfolded when two men began arguing on East 138th Street near Brook Avenue shortly after 12:30 p.m. One of the men opened fire, causing bystanders to scatter. The shooter then fled the scene, heading west on East 138th Street. Police are still searching for a suspect described as a man with dark skin and dreadlocks, dressed in all black.
This incident is one of three shootings this week that have resulted in a total of four innocent bystanders being wounded, including an 8-year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet after disembarking from his school bus on Wednesday afternoon.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark expressed her outrage at the senseless violence, emphasizing that the elderly victim was simply “standing there minding her own business.” NYPD Assistant Chief Benjamin Gurley echoed her sentiments, stating that the shootings are believed to have a “gang nexus or crew nexus.” In response to the escalating violence, Gurley announced that additional police officers would be deployed to the troubled area in the coming days.