The New York Police Department shared footage of two groups of unidentified individuals that exchanged gunfire on a Bronx street corner near an elementary school.
Surveillance footage caught the incident on video just before 3 p.m. in early October.
"As observed on video, one group contained three males, with one shooter," officials with the NYPD told Newsweek in an emailed statement. "The other group contained two males with one shooter."
Officials believe those involved are in their late teens or early 20s. There were no injuries that resulted from the incident, which took place at the corner of East 150 Street and Cedar Lane.
Students from Boys Prep Bronx Elementary School were just about to be let out of school for the day, but Principal Dr. Khalek Kirkland told CW-affiliated station PIX11 News that the school was placed on lockdown after hearing from the local precinct.
"The crime is horrific and we just want to make sure that we're keeping our scholars safe," Kirkland told PIX11 News.
He continued and said that none of the students left the building and the families that were picking up their children were also safe.
The news outlet reported that the school serves about 800 students from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The police department is now asking for people with information about the individuals to come forward by calling the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or the Spanish hotline at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
WANTED for A Reckless Endangerment at the corner of East 150 Street and Cedar Lane . #Bronx @NYPD44pct on 10/05/21 @ 2:50 PM two groups of unidentified individuals exchanged gunfire at each other Reward up to $3500Seen them? Call 1-800-577-TIPS Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! pic.twitter.com/FyJMSm7tNu
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) October 21, 2021
According to data published by the New York Police Department, there have been 1,271 shooting incidents reported citywide in 2021. Of that number, 412 of those incidents took place in the Bronx.
In addition to this investigation, officers also said a man allegedly punched an 11-year-old girl in the face on Wednesday and struck a 15-year-old who tried to intervene.
Newsweek reported that the attack took place around noon in Stuyvesant Square on Wednesday. An unknown man approached the girl and began yelling.
In a statement sent to Newsweek, police said that the individual started to spray water at the girl and tried to attack her.
"When the victim attempted to fight back, the individual did grab the victim by her hair and punched her in the left side of her face," the statement read.
The man also allegedly "wrapped his hands around the victim's neck and applied pressure," according to police.
A 15-year-old classmate attempted to intervene but was struck and sustained minor injuries that were treated on the scene.
The 11-year-old girl was brought to Mount Sinai Beth Israel and was in stable condition.
Newsweek reached out to Boys Prep Bronx Elementary School but a representative was not available to provide a comment at press time.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more
