NYPD: Man on scooter kills 1, injures 3 in series of shootings in Queens, Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- Police say a man on a scooter killed one man and injured three in a series of shootings across Queens and Brooklyn on Saturday.
It started around 11:10 a.m. in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn.
Police say video shows a man on a scooter approach a 21-year-old man from behind and fire at him once. The victim was struck in the left shoulder and was taken to a local hospital. Police say he is expected to survive.
About 17 minutes later, police received several 911 calls about a man shot on Jamaica Avenue near 109th Street in the Richmond Hill section of Queens.
Police say that victim, an 87-year-old man, was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Surveillance video shows the suspect rolling up on his scooter and firing a number of times in front of May's Beauty nail salon. The storefront was left shattered.
As officers were on the scene of that shooting, police say they were told that a man on a scooter had randomly shot at a group of people standing on the corner of 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue. No injuries were reported.
Around 11:35 a.m., police say a 44-year-old man was shot in the cheek at Hillside Avenue and 126th Street. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition.
About two minutes later, police say a 63-year-old man was shot in the shoulder at 134th Street and Jamaica Avenue. He was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition.
Police say surveillance video of the shooter was sent to the smartphones of every NYPD officer in what's called a "critical message." Officers mobilized a search.
"A mobilization was also called in order to marshal our resources and flood the area. As it became clear that these shootings were being carried out by the same perpetrator, I immediately held an emergency conference call with all of our top executives, including Chief of Department, Chief of Patrol and Detective Bureau. Armed with an image of the suspect, our officers fanned out across Queens, focusing on the main thoroughfares," Acting NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said.
Police say around 1:10 p.m., the suspect was spotted near Sutphin Boulevard and 94th Avenue. Officers took him into custody without incident.
Below are photos of the scooter and firearm recovered at the scene. pic.twitter.com/xtFxtT1bCZ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 8, 2023
Officers found a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine inside the scooter. Police say there was no serial number on the gun and they're trying to determine if it's a ghost gun, an untraceable firearm that can be 3D printed or assembled from a kit.
The suspect's identity has not been released, but police say he is 25 years old and has one prior arrest in New York City for a traffic violation.
The shootings left residents shaken.
"Someone just lost a family member, a loved one," one man said.
"This is not right," one woman said.
"It was scary, yes. Because it's the first time in this neighborhood like this happen," another person said.
Police say while they don't know the suspect's motive at this time, the shootings appear to be random, and video shows that he is not targeting or following anyone.
The suspect was driving an illegal scooter that did not have a license plate, police added.