16-Year-Old Shot In Head At Brooklyn Playground In Critical Condition
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was shot in the head Friday in Brooklyn.
Police said it happened just after 3 p.m. at a playground near Nevins Street and Wycoff Street in Boerum Hill, CBS2's Cory James reported.
According to neighbors, several kids were at the playground when the shooter opened fire.
Neighbor Betty Lester told CBS2 she was in her apartment when she heard "four random shots." The gunfire was so loud, she jumped up to look outside her window.
"All the nannies and the babies running. There were kids over here too. Everybody was running and screaming because it was, you know, it was frightening," she said.
James asked Lester if she saw the victim.
"Not until I came out into the park, but she was already unconscious by then," said Lester. "She didn't look good."
Kids who go to a nearby school, but don't live in the neighborhood, often gather at the park, Lester told CBS2.
"There's no safe neighborhoods," Lester said.
The teenager was rushed to Methodist Hospital.
Authorities spent the afternoon knocking on the doors of apartments that had surveillance cameras, a number of them facing the area of the scene.
Investigators say the motive for the shooting is unknown, but the girl was not the intended target.
"Everybody scattered because of course, they were afraid. You know, so... It's sad, and I'm sorry about that," Lester said.
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This shooting is one of at least four this week involving teenage victims, but this one hit home for neighbor Christopher Duesing, who walked by the scene on his way home.
An abandoned bicycle and a shot-out car window painted a picture of how frantic and dangerous the gun violence must have been.
"It's a tragedy regardless of what the circumstances are," Duesing said. "I'm going to go pray. Pray that she makes it."
Police say they are looking for one suspect who took off on a Citi Bike.