Police: Skateboarder shot after argument with 2 men in Sunnyside, Queens
NEW YORK -- A 25-year-old man is in stable condition after being shot in the leg in Queens.
It happened late Tuesday night as the victim was riding his skateboard in Sunnyside.
Witnesses say two men got out of a blue BMW and shot the victim, all because he bumped into their car on his skateboard. The single shot was heard at the intersection of 47th Avenue and 39th Place.
Paul Belastegui lives across the street and installed his own security camera outside. The gunshot can be heard on the footage at around 11:38 p.m. By 11:43 p.m., police arrive on the scene and can be seen running to the victim's aid.
"They were screaming or yelling, and then it seems like the car was following him and then they shot him," Belastegui said. "This neighborhood is really calm. It's really peaceful. It is rare that something happens, but because of security and everything that is happening in New York, I installed a camera just to be safe."
Police sources say the 25-year-old victim collided with the vehicle on his skateboard, and an argument ensued, adding the single shot was fired and the two men in the car fled the scene. The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition.
Statistics released by the NYPD as of Monday show shootings down from this time last year -- 587 by June 19, 2022, compared to 446 reported in that time frame this year.
Police have not yet identified the victim of Tuesday night's shooting and no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information about the shooting 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.