Gun violence again reared its ugly head in Harlem and Queens on Tuesday night in separate shootings that left eight people — including two teenagers — wounded.
Police said the first shooting happened in Ozone Park, Queens at 6:18 p.m. on Sept. 27 inside of London Plane Tree Skate Park, located off the corner of Atlantic Avenue and 88th Street.
According to law enforcement sources, two individuals got into an argument at the location, then pulled out guns and began firing at each other.
But in the process, authorities said, the shooters wound up hitting and wounding four people hanging out near the park’s handball court.
More than two dozen shots were apparently fired, according to WABC-TV, though police sources could not immediately confirm that number. Following the gun battle, one of the suspects fled the scene inside a Mercedes-Benz in an unknown direction, police sources said.
Officers from the 102nd Precinct, in responding to 911 calls about the shooting, found the four victims at the location — including a 15-year-old girl shot in the left leg, and a 16-year-old boy struck in the lower back.
Both were taken by EMS to Long Island Jewish Medical Center for treatment of their injuries, which were not considered life-threatening, police said.
The other victims were a 20-year-old man shot twice in the right leg and once in the left leg; and a 32-year-old man hit in the left ankle. EMS brought them to Jamaica Hospital, and they are both expected to recover.
So far, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.
Nearly six hours later, police in Harlem responded to another gun battle that left four men injured.
NYPD sources said the bullets rang out at about 11:43 p.m. on Sept. 27 in front of an apartment building at 231 West 116th St.
According to authorities, the four victims were standing at the location when a dispute broke out between several unknown males. That dispute quickly descended into gun violence, leading to multiple shots fired.
Officers from the 28th Precinct, in responding to the shooting, found three victims at the location: a 28-year-old man shot in the right arm; a 27-year-old man shot in the upper right leg; and a 21-year-old man hit in the right arm.
EMS removed them to Harlem Hospital and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of injuries not considered life-threatening.
Police later learned of a fourth victim, a 24-year-old man shot in both legs, who also sought treatment at Harlem Hospital via private means. He is also expected to recover, police said.
As of Wednesday morning, the NYPD did not have a description of the suspected shooter. No arrests have been made in the case.
Anyone with information regarding either shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
