On a sunny midday afternoon gunfire erupted on East 167th Street and Clay Avenue in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Three people were injured, including a four year old girl.
Dramatic surveillance video capturing the noontime mayhem was released by police in hopes of tracking down the shooters.
The video and eyewitness accounts detail that a fist fight broke out and then suddenly two men pulled out guns — firing a total of 17 shots. In the ensuing chaos people ducked for cover behind cars.
Two men were arrested hours later. Police charged James Thomas, 58, with assault, officials said. They believe he is the one who shot the little girl. Officers also arrested Fredric Fielder, 33. He was also charged with assault.
On a sunny midday afternoon gunfire erupted on East 167th St & Clay Av in Morrisania leaving 3 people, incl a 4-yr old girl, shot. #Bronx pic.twitter.com/H9yEpk348G
— The Bronx Chronicle (@bronxchronicle) July 13, 2017
Law enforcement sources say it looks like the two groups of men intentionally picked the spot.
“They agreed to meet here, these two groups, three on one side and three on the other, at which point the fisticuffs begin and the guns come out,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said Wednesday at a news conference.
Police say a 33-year-old man, who was believed to be the intended target, was shot multiple times in the legs and a 57-year-old man was shot in the back.
The toddler and the two men are recovering from their wounds. Doctors successfully removed the bullet fragment from the child.
Late Thursday night, Assemblyman Michael Blake commented on the shooting: “It hurts me to my core to hear of another senseless shooting, this time involving three people including a 4-year-old girl. We’re extremely thankful none of the injuries are life threatening.”
In his statement, Assemblyman Blake recalled Jaheem Hunter, the 5-year-old boy shot last month, who is still fighting for his life and Detective Miosotis Familia who was laid to rest yesterday.
“What will it take to end the violence in our communities? How many more of our kids have to be caught in the line of fire before we decide enough is enough? asked Blake. The peripathetic assemblyman added that his office is organizing a community canvass to come up with solutions to the plague of gun violence in Morrisania.
News footage — CBS 2 News
Instagram photos and Twitter video courtesy of Susie Wong (@susieqfitlie)
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