New York City – A shooting incident near a migrant shelter in New York City early Monday morning has left one person dead and two others injured, as police continue their search for the shooter.
According to the NYPD, the shooting took place around 3 a.m. when a male gunman fired into a crowd gathered for the Venezuelan presidential election. A 44-year-old woman was fatally struck, while a 31-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman sustained injuries and are now in stable condition at a local hospital.
Investigators suspect that the shooting may have been a retaliatory act following an earlier robbery. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell mentioned that the motive behind the shooting appears to stem from the shooter being a victim of an unreported gunpoint robbery earlier in the evening.
The suspect reportedly fled the scene on a moped, and authorities do not believe he resides at the Randall’s Island shelter. In conjunction with the shooting investigation, the NYPD also towed numerous unregistered cars and mopeds from the shelter lot, one of which was reported as stolen.
Tragically, the woman who was killed in the shooting was a resident of the shelter, as is the injured 32-year-old woman. Local residents shared their sentiments regarding the incident, expressing sadness and shock over the senseless violence that occurred in what was once considered a peaceful area.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline. All details provided will be kept confidential.