2 Men Arrested In Stray Bullet Shooting That Injured 7-Year-Old Boy In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Two men are under arrest following a stray bullet shooting that injured a 7-year-old boy in the Bronx.
Sources tell CBS2 the suspects – 31-year-old Manuel Colon and 21-year-old Keyshawn Williams – are known gang members with prior records.
Shots were fired in broad daylight last Wednesday outside the Mill Brook Houses on East 137th Street in the Mott Haven section. One bullet grazed the young bystander, who was walking home from school with his grandmother.
"I was sitting right here with my girlfriend. I (saw) his back when he was shooting. He was aiming that way, shooting at the same time," said witness Jose Garcia. "So from there, he ran that way with a gun at his side."
"I hear someone shooting. When we step into the back, the lady's like, 'close the door,' and I hear more shooting," witness Jamie Milan added. "I was scared."
The boy was rushed to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition. His grandmother was not hurt.
"He's OK, we're OK," one family member said outside the hospital.
Residents told CBS2's Aundrea Cline-Thomas a mobile command unit has been parked in front of the housing complex since the shooting.
"It feels a little safer," Richard Gonzalez, of Mott Haven, said.
"Very scared, because it could have been my child outside," a woman added.
Colon was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. Williams faces attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
"These are young kids that are just going the wrong way," said Gonzalez. "These gangs just got to stop, man. We've got to take care of one another."
Their arrests come as the NYPD continues to investigate five other incidents this month alone in which innocent bystanders were struck. In one incident, a man was killed by a stray bullet while out walking his dog.
Earlier this week, police said shootings were down 31 percent over the last few years. Still, they agree these recent incidents are trouble and say they're close to making more arrests.
