Gunfire erupted in Tompkins Square Park on Friday morning, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 74-year-old man and injuring a 44-year-old man in what law enforcement sources described as a drug-related incident.
The victims were shot in the back around 9:50 a.m. at East 7th Street and Avenue A in the East Village park. Both were taken to Bellevue Hospital and initially listed in stable condition. The shooter’s status remains unclear, and the motive is under investigation.
Justin Desantis, a nearby resident, reported hearing several loud bangs that sounded like fireworks followed by sirens. He saw EMTs tending to one of the victims on the ground. Another witness, Omar Gonzalez, mentioned that one victim ran into a bodega, leaving blood all over the scene.
Locals expressed their shock at the violence. Jett, a resident on Avenue A, called the incident “very frightening,” while Gonzalez, who lives in a van nearby, was surprised to see such violence, despite occasional warnings about the area.
The park has witnessed violence before, with two bystanders shot and wounded in March and another shooting incident days later.