Neighbors call for more youth resources after double shooting in Wakefield
Police are still looking for one suspect. Three were taken into custody in the shooting that injured an 87-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man.
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Police are asking for the public's help identifying a person wanted in connection with a shooting Friday afternoon in the Wakefield section of the Bronx that left an 87-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man injured.
According to the NYPD, the shooting happened just before 3:50 p.m. Friday in front of 3940 Barnes Ave. Police said an 87-year-old woman was shot in the face and torso, while an 18-year-old man was shot in the right hip.
Both victims were taken by EMS to local hospitals and are expected to survive.
Investigators said the suspect fled north on White Plains Road after the shooting. Police released surveillance images of a man they are trying to identify. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, red shorts, black sneakers and a black backpack.
Police have already arrested and charged three 16-year-old boys in connection with the shooting.
Two of the teens are charged with two counts of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The third is charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
While the arrests have been made, police said the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue working to identify the individual shown in the surveillance images.
For some neighbors, the ages of those charged are just as troubling as the shooting itself.
"To hear this happened, it's really mind-blowing," said Karlene Simpson, who lives in the neighborhood.
"It's been out of control, man. It really has," said Maceo Wilson, another neighborhood resident.
Simpson said it is especially troubling that teenagers are accused in the case.
"These are younger generations and it's sad because it's our future, so to be locked up for this, it makes no sense," she said.
Wilson said preventing youth violence starts both at home and in the community.
"It bothers me. It needs to be taught at home, but if not at home, it needs to be taught in the community not to pick up these guns because they're playing with people's lives," Wilson said.
Both neighbors said they believe more investment in young people could help steer teens away from violence.
"More community centers, more community outreach reaching out to kids what they like and what you do for them," Simpson said.
"They do need more basketball courts, more parks, more things they can do after school. More things they can do during the summer break. They need more positive things, they need more positive role models," Wilson said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline.
