The 18-year-old teens, whose names were not released, were shot on Saturday, July 26, just before midnight after they passed a group of approximately 20 black males who were gathered outside a deli at 1844 Morris Park Avenue, according to the police report.
Deeply disturbed by the news, Community Board 11 district manager John Fratta said, “This is a problem we’re having. We need to get the guns off the street.”
The teens told the responding officers they began to run after hearing the sound of five gunshots. Unfortunately, they only made it as far as 1828 Holland Avenue before collapsing from their injuries.
One of the men suffered a bullet wound to his shoulder. The other was shot in the lower abdomen and arm.
Both men were transported to Jacobi Medical Center and are currently in stable condition.
Fratta said the shooting was one of more than a handful that’s invaded the community in the past month.
“Something has to be done and we have to get it done fast because this isn’t working,” Fratta stressed about the petty crime that’s taking over the neighborhood and dangerously evolving into high-risk activity.
In addition to an increase in patrol officers, Fratta believes the 49th Precinct needs to revive the street strategies they utilized when crime was on the decrease.
“I really think at this point we need to start putting up the road blocks again and begin checking for guns,” he commented about a necessary inconvenience that could prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Along the same lines, he reiterated the importance of keeping suspicions high around large groups of people that congregate in the late evening hours and using common sense to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
In the meantime, police ask that anyone with information on the crime call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. Crime Stoppers has been known to offer monetary rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of violent criminals. All calls may remain anonymous.
For all other instances of crime, not in progress, or suspicions of illegal activity contact the 49th Precinct at (718) 918-2000 or Community Board 11 at (718) 892-6305.
