A man riding a scooter went on a shooting rampage across Queens and Brooklyn on Saturday, leaving one person dead and three others injured. The series of shootings began in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn and continued in various locations. The suspect, who remains unidentified, was apprehended by the police later in the day.
The first incident occurred around 11:10 a.m. in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn. Surveillance footage captured a man on a scooter approaching a 21-year-old man from behind and firing a single shot, striking the victim in the left shoulder. The injured man was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to recover.
Approximately 17 minutes later, authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting on Jamaica Avenue near 109th Street in the Richmond Hill area of Queens. An 87-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Jamaica Hospital. Meanwhile, as officers were investigating this incident, they were informed that the same scooter-riding suspect had randomly fired shots at a group of people on the corner of 108th Street and Jamaica Avenue. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
At around 11:35 a.m., a 44-year-old man was shot in the cheek at Hillside Avenue and 126th Street. He was immediately transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. Just two minutes later, a 63-year-old man was shot in the shoulder at 134th Street and Jamaica Avenue. He was also taken to Jamaica Hospital, but his condition was reported as stable.
Acting NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban held an emergency conference call with top executives, including the Chief of Department, Chief of Patrol, and Detective Bureau, after it became evident that the shootings were connected. The police swiftly distributed photos of the suspect to all NYPD officers and initiated a mobilization to concentrate resources in the area. Officers were deployed across Queens, focusing on major thoroughfares.
Around 1:10 p.m., the suspect was spotted near Sutphin Boulevard and 94th Avenue. Officers apprehended him without incident. During the arrest, a firearm was discovered inside the scooter. The weapon, a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, was seized as evidence. The suspect, a 25-year-old individual with a prior arrest for a traffic violation, remains unidentified. The suspect did not appear to target or follow anyone during his attacks.
The motive for the shootings remains unclear, but the police believe they were random acts. Investigations are ongoing.