A 7-month-old girl was killed in an apparent stray-bullet shooting in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Background
The child was being pushed in a stroller at Moore and Humboldt streets in East Williamsburg just after 1:15 p.m. when she suffered a gunshot wound to the head, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during an evening press conference. After hearing the shots, the child's mother ducked into a nearby bodega and noticed the little girl bleeding. Her father then ran the child to Woodhull Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Witness Bernius Maldonado described the chaotic scene. "I thought it was fireworks, but then they hit me on my leg. I got like little metal pieces on my leg," he said. "And then all the kids started ducking in the corner. The family went to the store and the mom started screaming when she noticed the baby was bleeding from her head. The baby was lifeless ... and the father just picked up the baby and ran to the hospital."
The shooting occurred on a corner where several adults, two strollers, and several children were standing nearby, according to the commissioner.
The Investigation
The NYPD is currently searching for two men who were riding a moped. Investigators recovered video showing the suspects driving out of 24 Humboldt St. at the Bushwick Houses just minutes before the shooting.
"As they approach the intersection of Moore Street, the male sitting at the rear of the moped can be seen taking out a gun and discharging at least two rounds towards the southwest corner," Tisch said.
As the suspects fled up Humboldt Street, video shows the moped crashed into an oncoming car two blocks from the scene. Both suspects were thrown from the scooter, with the rear passenger landing so hard his shoes came flying off. One of the men was taken to Brooklyn Hospital. Investigators believe he fits the description of the shooter based on his clothing and appearance. He was taken into custody as part of an unrelated investigation and investigators are working to determine if he's connected to the shooting.
The other suspect, believed to be the moped's driver, was described as wearing light grey pants and a white t-shirt with a black surgical mask over his lower face. He was last seen fleeing toward the Marcy Houses.
"He is the subject of a massive NYPD manhunt, and all New York City police officers have a very clear picture of this outstanding suspect on their phones," Tisch said.
The moped believed to be involved in the shooting was found abandoned about five blocks west of the scene and is being processed by investigators.
Key Takeaways
- The victim was a 7-month-old girl being pushed in a stroller at Moore and Humboldt streets in East Williamsburg
- She suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at Woodhull Hospital
- Two suspects fled the scene on a moped; one has been taken into custody, another remains at large
- Video recovered shows the suspects discharging at least two rounds toward a corner with adults and children
- Investigators recovered the moped abandoned five blocks from the scene
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for an end to gun violence, stating "We cannot accept this as normal"
What's Next
The suspect who fled toward the Marcy Houses remains the subject of an active manhunt. Police have distributed his description to all officers across the city. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted via the Crime Stoppers website or through social media direct messages to @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
City Councilmember Jennifer Gutiérrez, who represents East Williamsburg, expressed her grief on social media: "My heart is broken. A 7-month-old baby was shot. No parent should ever live this nightmare. No block should feel like this."