Police Identify Suspect In Shooting Outside Harlem Supermarket
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is looking for a shooter who they said opened fire at a busy intersection, randomly striking an elderly woman in Harlem.
Police said they have identified the shooter, telling CBS2 he is 19 years old and has seven prior arrests.
The suspect's 9mm handgun was recovered at a female friend's house in Harlem, police told CBS2. The friend has been taken into custody, police said.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, the friend was cooperating but authorities are still looking for the suspect.
Shots rang out around 7:30 p.m. Monday night in front of the Key Food on Lenox Avenue and 139th Street.
"I came out last night and the whole thing was taped off," Monique Moton said.
The perpetrator shot 51-year-old Francis Norman in the abdomen after they supposedly got into a stare down, police said.
A bullet ricocheted, grazing 76-year-old Mildred Mahazu in the neck as she exited the grocery store, according to investigators.
"I think it's absolutely terrible because she's a very nice lady," Mahazu's neighbor and friend of 50 years, Ronny Hines, told CBS2's Ilana Gold. "I see her every day and for this to have happened I just could not believe it."
On Tuesday, police found a bullet from the shooting in a package of chicken at the grocery store. CBS2 obtained a picture of the package shortly before police removed it as evidence.
The shooting has put many shoppers on edge.
"It's dangerous, you don't know who's coming," said Emma Brown of Harlem.
The NYPD is now keeping a close eye on the area because the incident was the second shooting near the grocery store in just the last few days.
A man was shot around 4 p.m. Sunday and taken to Harlem Hospital Center in serious condition. His wounds were not believed to be life threatening.
People in the neighborhood have had enough.
"If somebody got shot out here a couple days ago then why didn't they have cops out here patrolling?" Moton said.
"That's a very hot corner over there and it has been for years," Hines said.
In Monday night's shooting, a bus was left with a damaged windshield and the supermarket had several bullet holes in the windows.
