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Staten Island Baby Loses Eye After Being Shot In Face, 19-Year-Old Arrested
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 15, 2011
Modified Sep 15, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 15, 2011
Modified Sep 15, 2011
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While the 21-month-old baby girl who was caught in the crossfire of a Staten Island gunfight has survived being shot in the face, little Samyah Bailey has undergone brain surgery and lost an eye. Samyah had been sitting in her stroller at 1:40 p.m. yesterday when, witnesses tell the Staten Island Advance, "a heated argument broke out between two men." Police have arrested 19-year-old Damark King and charged him with assault, criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment.
According to the Daily News, "King ran up to Bailey's father, Michael, 28, and uncle, Anthony Mahoney, on a nearby bench and unleashed a wild fusillade but missed his mark. One of the rounds instead slammed into Samyah's temple, setting off panic in the courtyard." A family friend, Indigo Williams, grabbed Samyah, I didn't even think - it was just reaction. I ran to get the baby. I saw the baby there by herself... he was still shooting," and rushed her to the hospital.
The Post's sources say that the King and Samyah's mother may have had a fight: "Sources said King and the baby's mom may have been boyfriend and girlfriend at one time. Once the fight erupted, sources said the baby's uncle intervened. An enraged King left and returned a short time later with a 9mm, looking to shoot the uncle, the sources said."
A resident who lives in the Arlington Apartments complex told NBC New York that shootings were a common occurance, "They need to shut this place down."
Tagged
damark king
dispute
gun violence
samyah bailey
shooting
staten island
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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