7-Month-Old Killed by Stray Bullet in Brooklyn Moped Shooting

A 7-month-old child was fatally struck by a stray bullet Wednesday afternoon after a shooting on a Brooklyn sidewalk, according to authorities. The incident occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. when two men riding a moped traveled down a street, and the passenger opened fire at a street corner where several adults and children were gathered. Police stated that the shooting is believed to be gang related, and that the infant, who was in a stroller, was an unintended victim.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed reporters near the scene, expressing deep sympathy for the family of the child. “A life that had barely begun was taken in an instant,” Mamdani said. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the event as a tragedy that “shocks the conscious,” noting the unique pain and grief imposed on the victim’s family.

After the shooting, the suspects’ moped sped away and collided with an oncoming car two blocks from the scene. The crash reportedly threw both suspects off the moped, resulting in one losing both shoes. One of the men was injured and taken to the hospital, where he was placed in police custody in connection with a separate investigation. The second suspect fled and remained at large as of Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed.

The authorities used neighborhood security cameras to trace the suspects’ route following the shooting. No other injuries were reported. The killing comes during a period of falling violent crime in New York City, with NYPD data showing a 29% decline in homicides over the same period last year.

Investigators continue to search for the second suspect as the investigation remains ongoing.