Police: Woman shot by neighbor in Harlem, suspect on the run

NYPD officers were in and out of the East 135th Street building Wednesday after the shooting on the sixth floor.

"She's all about her children, her family. She don't bother nobody, so for this to happen, she had to intervene in a situation that had nothing to do with her," neighbor Nicole Williams said.

Investigators say a female tenant opened her door and went into the hallway, concerned about a man fighting with his girlfriend at the apartment across the hallway. She tried to intervene, and that's when police sources say the man involved in that fight shot her in the head.

"This is a senseless crime that happened. Like, she didn't deserve that. She came out to help someone that was in need and then this happened to her. It's not right. It's not fair," one neighbor said.

Some neighbors were scared to show their faces on camera in fear of retaliation from the shooter.

The victim's children and husband were home at the time.

While she remains in critical condition at Harlem Hospital, friends comforted her loved ones outside their building.

"That's tragic. To see someone you love shot and you can't do nothing but call for help," a neighbor said.

Neighbors say the victim works at a veterinary hospital and is a loving mother and wife.

"She was a nice person. That's why I was shocked. I'm like, what?" neighbor Marisol Otero said.

Neighbors say the shooter does not live in the building but visits regularly. Police have been called to that apartment for domestic violence issues in the past.

Police say he should be considered armed and dangerous.

The search continues for a suspect considered armed and dangerous. Police say he shot a woman inside their East Harlem apartment building after she tried to intervene in a dispute.

Police told CBS2 they are looking for a 35-year-old man. They say he fired a gun at his neighbor on Wednesday morning after she tried to stop a fight he was involved in. Now, she's fighting for her life in the hospital.

"She a good person. She take care of the kids," Nicole Williams said.

Friends said they are not surprised their 41-year-old neighbor tried to help when she heard a man fighting with his girlfriend in their apartment on East 135th Street, where they live with a small child.

"She's all about her children, her family. She don't bother nobody. So for this to happen, she had to intervene in a situation that had nothing to do with her," Williams said.

Investigators say at around 8:30 a.m. there was some type of domestic dispute at apartment 6A, which police have previously visited for domestic calls.

The resident in 6D went into the hallway because she was concerned about the fighting. The suspect came out of 6A with a gun and shot at her, police said. She suffered wounds to her eye, stomach, back, and buttocks.

"Somebody must've dropped some boards or something heavy. It sounded like gunshots," resident Marisol Otero said.

Two shell casings were found in the hallway. The victim was rushed to Harlem Hospital. Her children and husband were home at the time.

"She was a nice person. That's why I was shocked. I'm like, what?" Otero said, adding when asked if she knows the husband, "Yes, I see him around, too. He's a nice person, too."

In the suspect's apartment, a woman and a 3-year-old child were found okay.

"Sorry, I get emotional. I'm just scared because I've got children," one resident said.

"I've been living here for a while. This area is very hot. Whoever got shot, I feel bad for the family," another said.

Community advocates showed up to help support the family and residents.

"We need mental health counselors available to talk with families, to deal with anger management, to deal with the conditions that people are expected to live in under these circumstances," Iesha Sekou said.

It's believed the suspect took off with the weapon west bound on 135th Street. His image was shared across all NYPD cellphones so officers could recognize and stop him. They say if you know the man, do not approach him.

Police say a 41-year-old woman was shot several times in the hallway of her apartment building. 

She was rushed to Harlem Hospital in critical condition.

Investigators say this appears to be a case of neighbor trying to help another neighbor in distress, who ends up getting shot. 

The call came in around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday to the building at East 135th Street and Park Avenue. 

Investigators say there was some type of domestic dispute in apartment 6A, which police have previously visited for similar domestic calls. 

The residents down the hall at 6D came out into the hallway because they were concerned. A suspect in 6A came out of the unit with a gun and fired at his 41-year-old neighbor from 6D. She was injured in the eye, back, stomach and buttocks. 

Inside the unit where the suspect resides, 6A, there was also a woman and child present. They are OK. 

The suspect took off out of the building, going east on 135th Street. He's considered armed and dangerous. 

CBS2's Natalie Duddridge spoke to people who live in the building who say they saw the injured woman's husband crying in the hallway. They also heard the commotion, and are terrified. 

"I heard two gunshots. I say 'What is that, a gunshot?'" one neighbor said. "We wasn't friends like that, but I will see her around. I know who her husband is also." 

"Sorry, I got emotional. I'm just scared 'cause I've got children. To come home to see you is nerve-wracking, you just assume the worst," another person said. 

Two shell casings were found in the hallway. It's believed the suspect still has the weapon. 

His image is being shared across all NYPD cell phones so they can recognize him. They say if you know him, do not approach him. 

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's 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 via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.  

CBS2's Natalie Duddridge witnessed police taking someone out of the building in custody.