Police reported that armed individuals pursued two men into a local bodega and began firing shots. The targets, in a desperate attempt to shield themselves, took hold of a 40-year-old woman and used her as a human shield while the gunfire erupted. The mother sustained a gunshot wound to her stomach, and her 12-year-old daughter was struck in the right thigh, according to law enforcement officials.
NYPD Chief of Department John Chell described the harrowing scene during a briefing on Monday evening, recounting, “If you can imagine, mom and daughter up against the counter, and the two intended targets come in and bump into them and turn the mother around as they are being shot at.” Chief Chell condemned the shooting as “heartless” and noted that authorities are actively investigating to determine the motive behind the violent incident.
In addition to the mother and daughter, four other individuals — all males aged between 18 and 21 — were also injured in the shooting, sustaining various wounds to their legs, arms, and buttocks. These victims were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of their non-life-threatening injuries, as confirmed by officials.
One witness named Adama, employed at a nearby grocery store, shared his account of the chaotic aftermath, saying, “After the shots, people started running. I had three customers in here, and they ran. One customer got his food, and then he ran. The other two customers, they didn’t wait. They were scared.”
The tense situation was captured on surveillance footage, showing a man fleeing the scene just moments before two other individuals were observed sprinting down the street. At present, the suspects involved in the shooting remain at large as law enforcement agencies continue their investigative efforts.
The incident unfolded on December 31, 2024, in the Bronx, leaving a trail of broken glass on the sidewalk in front of the bodega. Police officers were seen meticulously marking bullet casings in the street, indicative of the intensity of the violence that transpired.
Reflecting on the unsettling events, Adama, aged 29, expressed his hesitation to venture outside upon hearing the gunshots, stating, “When you hear something like that — boom, boom — usually it’s shooting. I stood there. I didn’t go outside. It’s not safe.”
As the community grapples with the repercussions of this senseless act of violence, authorities are urging anyone with information pertaining to the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
