Police in Brooklyn have launched a manhunt after a gunman opened fire on a busy street in broad daylight, wounding two people. According to News 12, officers are searching for a man who shot two people at a crowded Crown Heights intersection in the middle of the day, turning a routine afternoon into a scene of panic for those nearby.
The shooting happened at a well-known corner of the neighbourhood. It took place at around 12:30 in the afternoon at the corner of Montgomery Street and Bedford Avenue, an intersection the reporter at the scene described as extremely busy, with people walking around, children, elderly residents and families passing through, and Medgar Evers College right on the corner.
Two people were struck by the gunfire. A 27-year-old man was shot in the stomach and the arm, while a 17-year-old boy was shot in the arm. Both were caught up in what witnesses described as a brazen attack carried out in the middle of the day, in full view of one of the busiest parts of the area.
Despite their injuries, both of the wounded were said to be holding on. Police said the two were taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition. A neighbour who looked out after the gunfire said both men were conscious on the sidewalk, though one of them had lost a lot of blood as he waited for help.
Investigators found physical evidence of the shooting at the scene. Police recovered at least two shell casings at the corner of Montgomery Street and Bedford Avenue and across the street, where two pools of blood were left on the sidewalk, marking the spots where the victims had fallen.
The gunman, however, got away. Police said the suspect ran off on Montgomery Street and was wearing all black, and so far they have made no arrests. There is no word yet on what led up to the shooting or any motive, leaving open questions about why the two were targeted in such a public place.
For people who live and work around the corner, the violence has deepened a sense of fear. One man who lives above the stores said he was in bed when he heard several gunshots outside, and others told the reporter they are scared for their lives, with one resident saying this was the fourth shooting he had personally witnessed in the area in the last two years.