Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
71-year-old woman killed in South Bronx shooting: NYPD
By
Bahar Ostadan
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 14, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Catalina Gonella
By
Bahar Ostadan
and
Catalina Gonella
Published Sep 14, 2023
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A 71-year-old woman was shot and killed in the South Bronx on Thursday afternoon by a stray bullet after two young men got in a fight, according to police.
At around 12:35 p.m. one man fired “multiple shots” at the other, instead hitting two innocent bystanders, NYPD Assistant Chief of Patrol in the Bronx Benjamin Gurley said in a news conference.
The elderly woman was shot in the back and killed and a 34-year-old woman was injured, Gurley said.
“Numerous shell casings for a semiautomatic weapon” were found at the scene, Gurley said.
On Thursday, police had placed at least 12 shell casing markers on the sidewalk where the shooting took place.
Surveillance video obtained by Gothamist shows two women standing at a sidewalk food stand when suddenly, one grabs her arm and they both run into a nearby deli. Footage from inside the deli shows the woman in distress as patrons and workers come to her aid.
Ambilio Alvarado Catalan said he was organizing stock inside the deli when he heard gunshots. At first, they sounded like they were blocks away, but then a woman bleeding from her arm ran into the deli. Catalan said he recognized her as a Honduran street vendor.
NYPD officials brief the media after a shooting on Thursday that police say killed a 71-year-old woman.
Bahar Ostadan
“The woman was crying, screaming for help, and we wanted to help but we didn’t have anything. I brought her a paper towel with alcohol, but she was bleeding a lot,” Catalan said. “Within three minutes, the firefighters were there.”
He said he hasn’t seen anything like it before, and the incident left him feeling uneasy.
“I don’t think I’ll sleep very well tonight,” he said.
Police have not arrested anyone in connection with the incident, but they believe the shooting was triggered by a dispute over gang territories — which police said also caused a separate shooting in the same area on Wednesday night.
A third shooting in Mott Haven on Tuesday left an 8-year-old boy injured. He is expected to recover.
“This has got to stop,” Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark told reporters. “Four victims in the last three days … That’s bullets to skin. Enough is enough. This is happening in broad daylight.”
The NYPD will station more police officers in the area, Gurley said.
Tagged
public safety
bronx
Bahar Ostadan
Bahar Ostadan covers the NYPD and public safety. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or message Bahar on Signal at 646-740-7335.
Read more
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center
Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 8:28 a.m. ET
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says
Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say
By
Caroline Lewis
A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.
By
Samantha Max
The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .