15-year-old in custody after shooting leaves 20-year-old man dead, teens injured in Yonkers
YONKERS (WABC) -- A 15-year-old is in custody after a 20-year-old man was killed and four teenagers were wounded in Yonkers on Sunday night -- in a shooting that police believe was gang-related.
Police said the victims were standing on a street corner, at Elm Street and Palisade Avenue, when the gunman approached from across the street.
He was seen stepping into the roadway before opening fire just before 8:45 p.m.
The 20-year-old man was shot in the back and died at the scene, police said. Two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were also shot and taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities said the four injured victims were in critical but stable condition.
Police officials said it appears the group of teenagers was targeted, but the 20-year-old man may have been an innocent bystander.
An on-duty police captain nearby heard the gunfire and, along with other responding units, immediately pursued the suspect, authorities said. They took the suspect into custody.
Investigators believe the shooting was related to a gang turf dispute.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano urged against any retaliatory violence, while Acting Police Commissioner Daniel Campanini said officers would maintain a heightened presence in the area.
"This incident took all but maybe five seconds. Five seconds and we have five people, one person dead. You know guys, urban centers of America continue to deal with these issues," Spano said.
Spano also questioned how the suspect allegedly obtained a weapon.
"How's a 15-year-old end up with a gun like that?" he said.
When asked what type of firearm was used, police officials said they could not release that information because the investigation remains active.
The mayor added that the scope of the injuries raised questions about the type of weapon used.
Investigators said they recovered a loaded firearm, ballistic evidence and surveillance video. Police believe the suspect in custody was the sole gunman.
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