Mass Shooting In New York Leaves 10 People Injured, Police Call It An Armed Gang Attack

Shooting illustration. (Pixabay/Alexas_Photos)

JAKARTA - At least 10 people were injured in a mass shooting in New York City, United States, Saturday night local time. The victims, aged between 19 and 72, were rushed to a local hospital.

In a statement Sunday, the New York Koat Police Department said it received a 911 call about the shooting at around 10:38 p.m., Assistant Chief Galen Frierson, of the NYPD Borough Queens North Patrol, said at a news conference Sunday, Aug. 1 local time.

"Initial reports suggest two men approached eastward on the pavement on the north side of 37th Avenue of 97th Street brandishing a gun," Frierson said, as quoted by CNN Monday August 2nd. before jumping back on two scooters driven by two other men and fleeing the scene."

New York Police are now looking for the four people they suspect were behind the shooting. They are depicted as men wearing masks and with head coverings.

"There's only one common theme I want to address, which is a recurring theme that keeps happening, and that has to stop all over the city," James Essig, chief detective, said during a news conference.

"It (attack) armed gang members, multiple guns at the scene, scooters used, masks and final unwanted targets hit. This is unacceptable on our streets of New York City and it must stop."

Police believe three of the 10 injured were members of the Trinitarios gang and the other seven victims were not intentional targets, Essig said.

"Increasing gun violence has become a daily reality in the outer region and for communities of color. It's not just the Manhattan issue that is making headlines, because we fear it will scare off tourists," New York City Councilor Francisco Moya of Corona, Queens, said. the location of the mass shooting this time occurred in a statement.

"We are trying to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and the gun violence pandemic. This is why I am working to bring more intervention opportunities into our environment through to stop violence."

To note, 'The Gun Violence Archive' lists the Queens mass shooting as one of five mass shootings that occurred on Saturday. Mass shootings also occurred in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, although there were no fatalities, the GVA reported Sunday.