A , 7-year-old child ​walking down a Harlem street , with her papa was shot Monday evening as gunfire erupted outside a local park, officers and testimony told the Daily News.
The innocent witness, shot in the abdomen, was  , rushed by police officers to Harlem Hospital , in stable condition, officers said. The killing happened near a Starbucks at 2: 52 p. m. at W. 145th St. and Bradhurst Ave.
Two people have been taken into police custody, Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press conference. The defendants are 17 and 19 and officers believe , the killing was group related.
” Obviously, Our hearts go out to the community. We wish her a quick recovery. It’s always a good thing when , a baby or any innocent bystander is a victim”, Adams said. ” We’re going to see this through to righteousness”.
A chaotic picture was described by witnesses.
” There were about six to eight photos in rapid succession. The officers were holding the baby,  , rushing her to a police car,  , the father and a person were running behind them. He was crying. He said,’ I’m her grandfather,’ said see Angel Casanova, 30.
” When the persons knew it was a , seven year old child, you may hear a pin drop. She was in horror. I guess the pain did n’t hit her yet. Her father prayed to God while she was crying. It’s irritating, it’s terrible, “he added.
When one of the pursuers opened fire on a second person, an eyewitness reported to the Daily News that she witnessed two people chasing him out of a local park.
” There were three men who left the park,” the statement read. One of them was shooting as he ran,” the testimony said”. They did n’t hit anybody but the little girl. It was unpleasant,” she said.
At a press conference, NYPD Chief Brian Gill stated that the woman was walking with her parents when she was struck.
Two guys” both fire shells eastbound, striking the girl,” Gill said”. They were shooting at two meant targets. We believe it’s gang-related. Two boys were apprehended. One had a rifle. We are now looking for a second tool,” Gill said.
” She was on the surface. She was bleeding, but she was very quiet and talking. People started causing a stir, so the police called 911 and took her to the gymnasium, where a 40-year-old coach said.
” I chased the two boys running, but they got ahead, “he added.
One see claimed to have witnessed a man toss the weapon over a fence.
The youngster threw the weapon over the gate, I saw. Gerrard, who works for the gardens section and declined to provide his last name, claimed that it was a “black gun cocked again.” It was just two people running.”
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