Smiling 16-year-old shot in head in Brooklyn park leaves hospital to cheers

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Friday, October 15, 2021

Teen girl shot in NYC park released from hospital, smiling and talking

The 16-year-old girl who survived being shot in the head in a Brooklyn park was miraculously released from the hospital Friday morning.

BOERUM HILL, Brooklyn (WABC) -- The 16-year-old girl who survived being shot in the head in a Brooklyn park was miraculously released from the hospital Friday morning, just two weeks after her brush with death.

Friends and family of Kyla Sobers-Batties joined police officers as she was released from Methodist Hospital.

Kyla, whose 17th birthday is Saturday, smiled and waved wearing an NYPD hat as she was wheeled into a waiting ambulance.

"I feel great, yes," she said. "It feels amazing. Thank you."

Raw video of her exit:

16-year-old Kyla Sobers-Batties was released from the hospital after getting shot in the head in a Brooklyn park two weeks ago.

Her mother, Nadine Sobers, was anxious to get her daughter home.

"Thank you so much to the hospital and to the police," she said as she climbed aboard the ambulance with her daughter.

Officers cheered as she was driven home, marveling at her amazing recovery.

"At the scene there was a lot of blood loss and it didn't look good," said Command Officer Judith Harrison, NYPD Patrol Borough Brooklyn North.

The Cobble Hill High School senior was struck by a stray bullet while hanging out with friends in Nicholas Naquan Heyward Jr. Park near the Gowanus Houses in Boerum Hill on October 1.

She underwent successful surgery to remove bullet fragments and was in a medically induced coma for a time.

Command Officer Harrison organized Friday morning's hospital send off.

"And this young lady was in the park with her friends, a good kid, someone who went to school, got good grades, who endeavors to go to college. She actually wants to major in law. She's a great kid and she's shot by a stray bullet. It's horrific," Harrison said.

Police are looking to talk to three young men spotted on surveillance following the shooting.

(Previous coverage) Diana Rocco has more on the search for suspects after a 16-year-old was shot in Brooklyn.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Kyla's grandmother has a message for the gunman who shot her granddaughter.

"I wish him all the best. That's all I can say. My daughter said she can't forgive, but I have to forgive," said Joy Sober, Kyla's grandmother.

Local organizers set up a GoFundMe page to help with her medical expenses.

Anyone with information in regard 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).

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