Police Seek Suspect In 4-Year-Old Boy's Bronx Shooting Death
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The death of a 4-year-old Bronx boy who was gunned down in the crossfire of a shooting at a charity basketball game has city leaders calling on anyone with information to come forward.
The weekend tragedy is also prompting some prominent politicians to come out in support of the NYPD's controversial policy of stop and frisk.
Police are looking for whoever shot and killed 4-year-old Lloyd Morgan. The little boy was at a playground at the Forest Houses in the Morrisania section when a gun battle broke out just after 9: 30 p.m. Sunday, police said.
Lloyd was shot in the head and died at the hospital, police said.
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"So many gunshots and while this was going on, I was just looking for my baby," Lloyd's mother, Shianne Norman, said. "My son was 4 years old. He just turned 4 this May that just passed. He was going to school in September. He hasn't gotten to live his life yet. He hasn't gotten to do anything."
A rally and vigil was held late Monday afternoon at Forest Houses basketball court where Lloyd was killed. Flyers were being handed out advertising the $12,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was also at the rally, where she spoke about the tragedy and urged anyone who knows who was involved to come forward and speak up.
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"If you know who was involved in that crime, you need to come forward. People say it is snitching; it is not snitching -- it is saving a life," Quinn told reporters, including WCBS 880's Marla Diamond.
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Assemblyman Ruben Diaz told reporters, including CBS 2's Emily Smith, that he is changing his long-time position on the stop-and-frisk tactic used by the NYPD. He said he now supports whatever it takes to stop the killing.
"I know it's not too politically correct, but I am fully, totally supporting stop and frisk now," Diaz said.
Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, clergy and neighborhood residents called on the community to come forward with information in the case. Stevenson also said the killing made him a believer in the controversial stop-and-frisk policy.
"I do support the stop and frisk to the extent that we have some better reform of it," Stevenson said.
Assemblyman Marcos Crespo called the 4-year-old's death "tragic."
"While no words can erase their pain, we must come together as a community and stand together to comfort and support the Morgan family during this difficult time," Crespo said in a statement.
Two men were also shot, a 27-year-old in the stomach and a 21-year-old in the arm. They were both taken to the hospital and are listed in stable condition.
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The shooting happened just as an estimated 100 people had gathered at the basketball court next to the playground to pay tribute to another victim of violence, an 18-year-old who was stabbed to death two years ago.
"They have a memorial every year for her. They had it yesterday, it was fine, they had it today," witness Tyshawn Norris said. "It's a horrible situation when you can't enjoy your neighborhood in peace. Your kids can't play. It's crazy."
Police said it's unclear who was involved in the shootout.
"You changed my whole life in an instant and I don't know how I'm supposed to go on," Norman said of the shooter. "I hate these men. You've destroyed me."
This is the second time Lloyd's father Lloyd Morgan Sr. has lost a child. Morgan said his newborn daughter was killed by her mother six years ago. Her body was found in a trash bag stuffed in her grandmother's closet.
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg extended his condolences to the young boy's family.
"Four years old, life snuffed out, there's not a lot else to say. We all know about the scourge of guns on our streets," Bloomberg said.
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