A 20-year-old man was shot near a Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx on Thursday, sending children and others nearby scrambling for safety as gunfire erupted in broad daylight.
Police responded to the area of Castle Hill Avenue around noon and found the man with a gunshot wound to his torso. He was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in stable condition.
Police are looking for two masked suspects who fled the scene on scooters. One was wearing a black hoodie and the other was wearing a gray hoodie, according to police.
Calena, who did not provide her last name, said the shooting was especially disturbing because it happened so close to the Boys & Girls Club.
“This is a Boys & Girls Club. This is where kids go. That’s crazy. Kids come here to feel safe, and nobody can feel safe anymore in the Bronx,” she said.
Most residents in the area did not want to speak on camera, citing concerns for their safety. Off camera, residents described a frightening scene as shots rang out near the club in the middle of the day.
One man said children who were outside the Boys & Girls Club ran for cover. A woman across the street said she saw the victim run into the clubhouse after he was shot.
The woman said she then saw a large group of young people try to chase the victim. She said staff at the Boys & Girls Club locked the doors to keep everyone inside.
“I feel like this is absolutely terrible what’s happening now. A lot of people is fighting. This is the community now. I’m not perfect myself, but this is somebody’s life. You know, anybody can pass away. I lost my cousins and brothers through shootings, so I don’t like to hear anything like this,” said Calena.
The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club was contacted for comment but did not respond.
The NYPD said the investigation remains ongoing. NY1 asked police whether they believe the shooting was gang-related but did not receive a response.