Three teenagers were taken into custody on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the shooting of a 38-year-old woman in the Bronx. The incident occurred in Mott Haven, where the victim was walking on East 143rd Street near Willis Avenue when a group of individuals started firing shots towards another group on the street. The woman, who was a stranger to the suspects, was hit during the crossfire and sustained serious injuries.
The police charged two boys, aged 15 and 16, as well as a 16-year-old girl with attempted murder in connection to the shooting. The girl and one of the boys turned themselves in, while the third teenager was apprehended by the department’s Neighborhood Safety Team. It was reported that the teenagers were walking down the block when one of them pulled out a gun from the girl’s handbag and began shooting. The other two boys also fired their weapons during the incident.
The victim was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center with severe injuries but was in stable condition. The suspects fled the scene and were later identified through surveillance footage at the Diego Beekman apartment complex. It is still unclear whether the woman was the intended target of the shooting or if she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This incident occurred just days before another shooting in Ridgewood, Queens, where a 23-year-old woman was shot in the leg. Three 17-year-old boys and a 23-year-old man were arrested in connection to that shooting, which was believed to be gang-related.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, youth violence in the city reached record levels in 2025, with 14% of shooting victims and 18% of shooters being under the age of 18. Tisch expressed concern over these statistics, stating that they were the highest percentages recorded since data tracking began in 2018. The authorities are working diligently to address the rise in youth violence and ensure the safety of all residents in the city.
