MANHATTAN, NY – A peaceful Saturday afternoon at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan was abruptly shattered by gunfire that left two innocent bystanders injured. Law enforcement quickly swarmed the tranquil park as investigation units scoured the area for critical evidence.
The shooting took place just before 1 p.m. Authorities were notified with a distressing 911 call of several gunshot victims within the park perimeter. On rushing to the scene, officers located a 26-year-old male with a bullet wound in his back and a 53-year-old female who had been struck in the right hip. Both victims were mere park dwellers who unfortunately got caught in the violent confrontation.
Early investigation suggests the shooting broke out when the alleged gunman found himself targeted by at least two men. In self-defense, the man brandished his firearm and opened fire, unintentionally hitting two uninvolved individuals enjoying the fair weather in the park.
While both shooting incidents and victims are fewer this year in New York City, this park shooting, on the heels of a similar event on a subway in Brooklyn, arouses concern.
Post the shooting incident, the shooter reportedly fled towards First Avenue on East Ninth Street, last spotted in a black hoodie. The victims have been transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they remain stable. Meanwhile, the manhunt for the suspected shooter continues.