A 7-month-old baby in a stroller was killed by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday afternoon, with authorities linking the incident to gang activity.
Incident Details
- The shooting occurred around 1:20 p.m. when two men on a moped fired at least two shots at a group of people on a sidewalk.
- The baby, an unintended victim, was struck by a stray bullet and died at the scene.
- No other injuries were reported from the gunfire.
Aftermath and Investigation
- The moped fled but crashed into an oncoming car two blocks away, causing both riders to be thrown off.
- One suspect was injured in the crash and is in police custody in connection with an unrelated investigation.
- The other suspect fled on foot and remains at large.
- Police are using neighborhood security cameras to track the moped's movements post-shooting.
Official Reactions
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed profound grief, stating, “There are no words that can mend the heartbreak this family is feeling right now. A life that had barely begun was taken in an instant.”
- Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described it as “a terrible day in our city, a tragedy that truly shocks the conscious,” and emphasized the pain for the family.
Crime Context in New York City
- Despite this incident, New York City has seen a significant drop in crime rates.
- Through Sunday, the NYPD recorded 52 killings in 2026, a 29% decrease from the same period last year.
- The city is on track for historically low rates of killings and shootings in the first quarter.
- Mayor Mamdani noted that the killing underscores the ongoing need to address gun violence.