Social distancing and self-quarantines during the coronavirus crisis in New York wasn’t enough to prevent three violent incidents in Brooklyn this weekend.
Five people were shot and another individual was stabbed in the episodes that occurred on Saturday night and into the following morning.
In the first incident, a man was shot in front of 979 Myrtle Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant at about 6:15 p.m. on April 4.
When officers from the 79th Precinct arrived, they found the victim, age not immediately known, shot in the neck. Paramedics brought him to Kings County Hospital for treatment of an injury that was not considered life-threatening, police officials said.
The second outbreak of violence occurred at 9:50 p.m. Saturday night at 180 Wortman Ave. in East New York’s Linden Houses public housing complex.
Cops from the 75th Precinct and NYPD Public Service Area 2 found the man stabbed in the stomach. EMS rushed the man to Brookdale University Hospital; his wound also not life threatening.
Police took one man into custody after the incident, officers said. Charges against him are pending. A woman was also taken into custody, charges pending, officials said.
It was not clear why the stabbing had occurred, but sources said it may have been resulted from a dispute between family members.
The third violent incident involved bullets flying at 3 a.m. at 165 Rockaway Ave. in East Flatbush.
According to law enforcement sources, a group of people were involved in an altercation inside of the building when someone opened fire with a handgun, striking four young men.
Members of the 67th Precinct found the men with non-life threatening injuries. One of the victims suffered a graze wound and refused medical attention.
The three wounded men were taken to Brookdale Hospital, already jammed with COVID-19 victims. They were listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Police were still seeking a description of the suspect, though investigators said the victims and witnesses were “uncooperative.” Detectives are also seeking security video from the scene.
Anyone with information in regards to to any of these incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit tips online at nypdcrimestoppers.com or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Police in some of the cases wore protective masks, while others attempted to observe social distancing during the investigations. The department reported that 18.5% of the department reported out sick.
