A 17-year-old boy was shot outside a Bronx housing development on Thursday night, possibly by a Citi Bike-riding gunman, according to police. The incident occurred at NYCHA’s Forest Houses on Trinity Avenue near East 165th Street in Longwood just before 10 p.m. The teen was injured in the hip and was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he is in stable condition.
The suspect reportedly fled southbound on Trinity Avenue, potentially using a Citi Bike as a getaway vehicle. This shooting came after two other 17-year-old boys were shot earlier in the day in the Mount Hope neighborhood. Both teens, who were innocent bystanders, sustained injuries – one in the right arm and the other in the neck. It appears they were caught in the crossfire and were not the intended targets of the shooter.
The victims were taken to Columbia University Irving Medical Center and are also in stable condition. The mother of one of the injured boys expressed her shock and gratitude that her son survived the incident without serious consequences. She plans to keep him indoors for his safety in the aftermath of the shooting.
These incidents highlight the ongoing issue of youth violence in New York City, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch attributing the rise in violence to the state’s controversial “Raise the Age” law. The community is left reeling from these senseless acts of violence, and residents are urged to remain vigilant and prioritize safety in their neighborhoods.
