NYPD mobilizing officers in South Bronx neighborhoods where pair of shootings left woman dead, 4 injured
NEW YORK -- As police continued investigating a pair of shootings in the South Bronx that left one woman dead and others injured from being caught in the crossfire, some people walked in fear on Friday.
"I wear a bullet vest ... because every morning I see what's going on around the neighborhood," said Rafael Gonzalez.
"Heard the sound of the shots going off and like any person, you just run and dip and just walk away," said Albert Ariza.
Eight people were shot in the borough this week, including 71-year-old Enriqueta Rivera, who was killed, and an 8-year-old boy, who is recovering.
A candle burned outside the Mill Brook Houses apartment of Rivera, who died Thursday after she was hit by a stray bullet at East 138th Street and Brook Avenue in Mott Haven.
Rivera's neighbor said she was a sweetheart.
"She was a great neighbor. She was very quiet, stayed to herself, beautiful kids," said Ronelle Bruno.
According to police, two men were arguing when one started firing shots at the other Thursday afternoon. Rivera was shot in the back and collapsed immediately. A 34-year-old woman was also caught in the crossfire and injured.
Surveillance video shows a man, the intended target, running down 138th Street and the gunman running in the opposite direction, police said.
Later that night, a shooting at Jerome Avenue and East 174th Street in Morris Heights injured three people, including two innocent bystanders, police said.
Police said a 24-year-old man was shot multiple times, a 29-year-old man was shot in the ankle and a 67-year-old man was shot in the arm. All were in stable condition.
People who live in the neighborhood said they want to see more of a police presence.
"People that live in this neighborhood are generally very kind people, very nice people. It's a very Latino oriented neighborhood here. I have never been someone whose felt unsafe here. I was born and raised here," said Ariza.
Assistant Chief of Patrol Borough Bronx Benjamin Gurley said Friday the NYPD will be mobilizing more officers to the area.
"You're going to see lights with cars our here, cops standing on posts, cops walking up and down the streets. You'll see our critical response teams, our public safety teams and our Neighborhood Safety Teams," said Gurley.
No arrests have been made in either of the Thursday shootings, but police believe the Mott Haven shooting and several others were connected and may have been gang-related.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark called the gun violence senseless.
"I'm working each and every day with law enforcement to make sure that we stop the flow of the guns that are coming into our community," said Clark.
In the meantime, advocates handed out flyers offering rewards for information leading to the arrest of anyone with an illegal handgun.
"We respond to all the gunshots and stab wounds that come into Lincoln Hospital," said Gilly Delgado.
Guns Down, Life Up is part of New York City's Crisis Management System. Crews hit the streets daily offering care, compassion, conflict intervention and mediation.
"We walk through communities. We do a lot of community mobilization. We canvass our areas and we hand out literature, as we offer alternatives," said Deldago.
Clark said everyone plays a role in public safety. She reiterated, if you see something, say something.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.