Deadly shooting near Randall's Island migrant shelter
RANDALL'S ISLAND (WABC) -- A woman was killed and two other people were injured in a shooting on Randall's Island.
It happened near Field 71 just after 3:30 a.m. on Monday.
Police say the 44-year-old woman died after being shot in the face and back. She is believed to be a migrant from Venezuela.
Detectives believe the shooting stemmed from the robbery of a necklace. The victim was dancing and does not appear to be the intended target.
Many of those gathered on the field at the time of the shooting were Venezuelans, and the gathering appears to have started as a celebration of Sunday's election results reelecting Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
A 31-year-old woman was shot in the lower back and a 32-year-old man was hit in the throat. They were also taken to Harlem Hospital where they are in stable condition.
Police established two separate crime scenes on the island after first arriving to an area near the the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. Their investigation led them to Field 7 near the city-run migrant shelter.
Authorities say they are looking for at least two men. One of the suspects fled on a moped and the other was able to get away in a vehicle with New Mexico license plates.
No arrests have been made.
Randall's Island Park Alliances Summer Camp, a free program for 350 to 400 children 6-12 years old, was canceled Monday due to the shooting. It will also be canceled on Tuesday.
Police have logged rising complaints of general lawlessness around the shelter.
On Monday, police impounded more than a dozen unregistered cars and scooters linked to asylum seekers at the shelter.
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