Queens mass shooting leaves 10 teens wounded outside NYC event space, police say
NEW YORK - Police are searching for four suspects after they opened fire into a crowd of 15 people standing outside an event space in Jamaica, Queens.
Ten teenagers were hurt in the shooting, which happened just after 11:15 p.m. on New Year's Day outside the Amazura Concert Hall on 144th Place.
"Last night in Queens, a memorial for a teen lost to gun violence turned to horror when gunmen opened fire on the crowd, including several young people who are now hospitalized. This cannot be our normal. We are working with authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
Mass shooting outside Amazura Concert Hall
Police said about 90 people were inside the address for a private event. Police sources told CBS News New York they were attending a vigil for 16-year-old Taearion Mungo, who was shot and killed last October. Sources said his mother booked the hall for what would have been his birthday.
While the concert hall called it an isolated incident, police sources said officers have been called to the location for previous incidents. Sources also said the shooting appears to be gang-related.
The venue was at capacity, and a line of about 15 people were waiting outside. Law enforcement sources say they were waiting to get into a celebration of life ceremony. Police said that's when four men walking down 91st Avenue approached the crowd and fired about 30 shots. They then ran toward 143rd Place, where they got in a light colored sedan with a New Jersey license plate, according to police.
Surveillance video shows four people running toward the venue, and then - less than 20 seconds later - it appears the same four can be seen running away.
"Zero tolerance for these senseless shooting, these horrible acts of violence on our streets. And those responsible for this crime will be apprehended," NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera.
Neighbors said it was so loud they thought people were celebrating the holiday.
"A lot of noise, like big fireworks," one person said.
"We thought people were celebrating the Happy New Year," said another.
"We are deeply saddened by the recent and unfortunate isolated incident that occurred. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless act. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation and to help bring those responsible to justice," Amazura Concert Hall said in a statement on social media.
Victims of Queens shooting
The street was crowded with ambulances waiting to rush the victims to local hospitals. They range in age from 16 to 19 years old and are all expected to survive their injuries.
"Officers responded to the multiple 911 calls and found a total of 10 victims -- six females, four males -- who were taken to area hospitals. All of the victims are expected to recover with non-life-threatening injuries," Rivera said.
Six of the victims were taken to the Jamaica Hospital Trauma Center with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to the leg, foot, arm and buttocks, to graze wounds to the back. The other four are being treated at New York-Presbyterian Queens, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Cohen Children's Medical Center.
Police said they were also actively canvassing local medical centers for any unaccounted for gunshot victims related to this incident.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. called the shooting a "life-changing ordeal" and shared his thoughts for those impacted.
"Ten families woke up this morning to some of the most devastating news one could imagine receiving — their loved one had been shot. My thoughts are with the victims and all those impacted as they navigate this life-changing ordeal, and I'm relieved that seemingly no lives will be lost due to this despicable shooting," Richards said in a statement. "I have been in constant communication with law enforcement, and while it does not appear this incident has a Queens nexus, under no circumstance will we allow any example of gun violence in our borough to go unpunished. I'm confident that those who perpetrated this heinous act will be arrested and held accountable for their actions."
Investigators noted the public has been instrumental in helping them solve high-profile crimes in recent weeks, and they hope the public will once again help them catch the suspects in this case.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via their website. All calls are kept confidential.
