Shooting in broad daylight in Tompkins Square Park in New York leaves one dead and one injured

NEW YORK – On Friday morning, two men were shot, one fatally, in the popular Tompkins Square Park in New York’s East Village.

The police are searching for the shooter.

Surveillance video shows the moment shots were fired near East 7th Street just before 10 a.m. Sources say the two victims, 74 and 44, were shot in the back.

One of the victims stumbled into a nearby delicatessen and begged for help.

“He ran from the park and collapsed here. I called the ambulance, the ambulance came and they took him away,” said Joe Abdo, an employee at the deli.

The 74-year-old succumbed to his injuries, police said. The 44-year-old is in a stable condition.

The shooter ran away. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a mask and white gloves.

According to police sources, both victims had previously been arrested and the shooting is believed to be drug-related.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or DM on Twitter, @NYPDTipsAll calls will be treated confidentially.

Neighbors say safety has been a top priority lately

According to NYPD crime statistics, three people have been shot in the 9th Precinct since Monday this year – not including Friday’s double shooting. Three people were also reported injured by gunfire at the same time last year.

Many people who live in the area say they are scared but not surprised.

“Most of the time I feel safe, but when I see something like this, I have to worry. I guess you always have to be aware of your surroundings,” said Lower East Side resident Susan O’Neil. “This keeps happening and it’s happening in the same area of ​​the neighborhood. Hopefully it just stops and we can have some peace here.”

“I can think of three or four shootings in the last few months in this neighboring area,” said local resident Andrew Di’matteo. “It’s definitely not good for the overall quality of life.”

Mayor Eric Adams says many of the city’s criminals are repeat offenders and should stay behind bars.

“The police are doing their jobs. They are solving cases. They are making arrests. They have taken 17,000 illegal guns off the streets. Far too often, the people who commit shootings are sent back to our streets and do not learn their lesson,” Adams said.