84-Year-Old Woman Injured in N.Y.C. Shooting While Sitting in Walker Alongside Group: ‘They Were in Shock’
"... It's appalling that gun violence remains a common theme in our communities,” said N.Y.C. city council member Farah Louis in response to the shooting
An 84-year-old woman was sitting in her walker when she was injured in a shooting in Brooklyn on Monday, June 10.
The woman, who has not been identified, was at the corner of Foster and Brooklyn avenues in Brooklyn when she was hit by a stray bullet after a man opened fire at a group of people around 6:30 p.m. local time, according to WABC-TV, News 12 Brooklyn and NY Daily News.
One of the bullets hit the woman’s left arm. Afterwards, she was taken to the hospital for treatment and is in stable condition, according to the outlets.
As many as 20 bullet shell casings were found at the scene, according to WABC-TV.
Police are still searching for the suspect in the shooting and are asking community members to help them identify the suspect. Officials also told News 12 that the woman was not the intended target, but the reason behind the shooting remains unclear.
The New York City Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident.
A pair of nearby witnesses told NY Daily News that they were in their home when they heard roughly a dozen shots fired just outside in the street. When they ran out to see what happened, they said they saw “about four old ladies and one gentleman were running up the street shouting, ‘They’re shooting! They’re shooting!’ "
“They were in shock,” one man told the outlet of the group. “I took my undershirt off and tied her wounds up.” He said as they waited for the ambulance to arrive, the 84-year-old woman called her family to let them know what happened.
“She was strong and she was on the phone with family members,” another man recalled to the outlet. “She was even being humorous about it. She was saying, ‘If you had been here they’d have shot you, too!’ "
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
In response to the news, City Council member Farah Louis shared a statement on Facebook, writing, “It is horrific that an elderly person was harmed in such senseless violence and it's appalling that gun violence remains a common theme in our communities.”
“We cannot stand idly and allow this to be a part of our daily lives,” she continued. “My thoughts and prayers are with this elderly woman as we wish her a safe and swift recovery. Violence has no place in our community!”
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
