A 6-year-old boy was struck in the chest during a mass shooting at Coney Island, according to police reports — an incident made more tragic by the fact that his father had been fatally shot years before the child was born.
The boy was listed in stable condition after being taken to a local hospital following the shooting that erupted on the Brooklyn boardwalk. Investigators say multiple people were struck during the violence, though the full extent of injuries remained unclear as authorities continued their investigation at the scene.
Background
Police sources indicated this was not the first time gun violence had devastated this family. The boy's father was killed in a shooting years ago — before the child was even born — leaving him to grow up without ever knowing his dad. Community members who knew the family described them as struggling to move forward from that earlier loss.
The Coney Island boardwalk has seen periodic outbreaks of violence, though mass casualty events of this scale are relatively rare in the neighborhood. Witnesses described panic erupting among families enjoying the summer evening when gunfire broke out.
The Investigation
NYPD detectives responded to the scene and have launched a forensic investigation. Officers recovered shell casings from multiple firearms, suggesting more than one shooter may have been involved. Police have not announced any arrests as of late Tuesday night.
Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in an effort to identify suspects. Detectives said they are also canvassing the area for witnesses who may have seen the altercation that preceded the shooting.
"This is a community that's been through too much," one investigator told reporters at the scene, declining to be identified by name pending the conclusion of the probe. "We're working around the clock to find who's responsible."
The boy has been cooperating with detectives in limited fashion, according to law enforcement sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing case publicly.
Key Takeaways
- A 6-year-old boy was shot in the chest during a mass shooting at Coney Island and survived
- The child's father was fatally shot before the boy was born, meaning he never met his dad
- Multiple people were struck during the incident; police have not released a final casualty count
- No arrests had been made as of Tuesday night
What's Next
The NYPD homicide squad and Brooklyn district attorney's office are expected to hold a briefing Wednesday morning with updated information. Detectives said they anticipate making additional appeals for witnesses to come forward. The boy's family has asked for privacy as investigators work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.