A 15-year-old boy is recovering after police say he was shot during a dispute in Bushwick, Brooklyn, late Wednesday night, and the search is now on for the gunman who got away. Investigators have not said what set off the confrontation, leaving neighbors on the block unsettled by another burst of violence involving someone so young.
The call came in just after 8:20 the night before, sending police and medics rushing to a bus shelter along Broadway. Officers were dispatched to 1704 Broadway, where several of them and an EMS crew converged on the shelter and worked to help the wounded teenager where he had come to rest after the shooting.
According to police, the boy was shot somewhere in his foot during a dispute that played out at the scene. He was taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center for treatment, and authorities said he is in stable condition. Despite the gunfire, the teen is expected to be okay, a relief in a case that could have ended far worse.
No arrests have been made, and the person who opened fire remains at large. Police sources said they are looking for a man who ran from the scene wearing a blue sweatshirt, black pants and sunglasses. What led to the argument between the teenager and the gunman is still unclear as detectives piece together the sequence of events.
A man who lives nearby said he saw the aftermath from across the street, though he did not want to be shown on camera. He described walking out of his building to find a burst of commotion and a crowd of officers, and a young boy limping toward the bus stop, where responders began treating him for the wound.
The neighbor's reaction spoke to a wider unease over how often young people are caught up in shootings. Learning the victim was only 15, he called it painfully young and pointed to the level of violence weighing on the community. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the police Crime Stoppers hotline as the search for the gunman continues.