1 Wounded When Gunfire Erupts At Memorial For 2 Teens Shot To Death On Brooklyn Basketball Court
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A 22-year-old man was shot in the shoulder at the site of a memorial for teenage shooting victims in Brooklyn.
The man was taken to Brookdale Hospital and is expected to be OK.
The shooting happened Monday night on Vernon Street in Cypress Hills near George Walker Jr. Park.
That's where a 16-year-old Kleimer Mendez and 18-year-old Antonio Villa were killed while playing basketball the night before. A 17-year-old was also wounded.
"People were attending the vigil, and an individual about 50 yards away - two individuals - were firing their guns and striking one individual," Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said Tuesday. "This has become a problematic area, seems like we believe there's a nexus to gang violence."
Yesterday, at approximately 6:40 p.m., an unknown male opened fire while hanging out of the sunroof of a late model Honda CRV at George Walker Jr. Park. The perpetrator struck three people, killing two innocent teenagers playing basketball. pic.twitter.com/ewcgr42BdG
— Chief Kenneth Corey (@NYPDChiefOfDept) July 27, 2020
The NYPD released troubling new video from Sunday's shooting that shows the gunman opening fire from the sunroof of a dark colored Honda CRV.
"I heard the shot, six shots, five shots. I turned around, the bodies were on the ground," one witness said.
Police believe the victims were the intended targets.
Friends say the youngest, Mendez, was very quiet, except when playing basketball - his favorite hobby.
Neighbors who spoke to CBS2 said they are scared.
"People get sad, because it's a young kid, like me," one person said.
CBS2's Natalie Duddridge reports most people did not want to talk on camera Tuesday out of fear of retaliation.
"That's one of the things that we're seeing is a reluctantly to talk to the police department, but in order for us to stop the violence that's happening, not just here on this block but throughout the city, we're going to need the community's help," Harrison said.
WEB EXTRA: Tracking Shootings In New York City
On Monday alone, there were 10 shootings in New York City with 12 victims and one fatality. The most recent NYPD Compstat numbers show victims are up nearly 80%. So far this year, there have been 919 people shot compared to 515 last year.
Police Commissioner Dermot Shea says the criminal justice system isn't working.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said again Tuesday he is cracking down.
"NYPD is using new strategies, moving officers where the need is greatest. We're calling on the state to reopen the court system," he said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo also spoke Tuesday afternoon, saying the city and state will handle the surge in violence without President Donald Trump.
"I don't think the answer is the president sending in federal troops, I don't believe there's any legal rationale for that, I don't believe it would be helpful," Cuomo said.
Police are still looking for the suspects in both Sunday and Monday night's shootings.