A 22-year-old man is recovering after being shot on Sunday, January 22, 2017, along Crotona Parkway in the West Farms section of the borough. The shooting took place a few blocks away from the Bronx Zoo.
Officers from the 48th Precinct in the Bronx were called to 2078 Crotona Parkway, between E. 179th and E. 180th Street, at 02:30 p.m. The unidentified victim was shot in the abdomen and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital and was expected to survive.
No other injuries were reported as the park was packed with residents enjoying an unseasonably mild day. Witnesses say the crowd scattered as the shots rang out.
A large crime scene was set up on both sides of Crotona Parkway as well as around the park known as The Crotona Parkway Malls, extending to Southern Boulevard.
A police source stated, “The victim is being highly uncooperative at this time,” so police have no description available of any suspects currently.
As of Monday morning police had no suspects in custody, but continue to investigate.
The 48th Precinct serves more than 70,000 residents who make up the East Tremont, West Farms, Crotona Park neighborhoods, as well as a portion of Belmont.
According to the latest NYPD statistics, the 48th Precinct has so far had four shootings this year, compared with just one during the same time period last year.
There have been no arrests made and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the NYPD‘s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1–800–577–TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1–888–57–PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers‘ website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All tips will be kept strictly confidential.