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2 teens in custody after shootout in East Harlem, NYPD investigating officer’s gunfire
By
Brittany Kriegstein
,
Phil Corso
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 15, 2025
Modified Sep 16, 2025
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José A. Alvarado Jr.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
,
Phil Corso
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 15, 2025
Modified Sep 16, 2025
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Authorities said an NYPD officer opened fire Monday evening during a shootout between two groups of teenagers in East Harlem, and two 15-year-olds were wounded during the incident — though police said they were investigating how exactly they were struck.
According to Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera, two uniformed officers were coming out of NYCHA’s Wagner Houses near East 123rd Street and Second Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when they heard shots and saw a teen firing a gun. One of the officers shot at the teen and both officers chased after him, Rivera said at a press conference following the incident.
Rivera said police caught up to the teen near East 123rd Street and took two teens into custody there: a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old who were allegedly involved in the shootout. Surveillance video recovered at the scene showed them firing guns, according to the chief.
The 15-year-old was shot in his left leg and taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition, NYPD officials said. Police did not immediately identify him.
Rivera identified the 18-year-old as Damien Calhoun and said officers found a gun in his bag loaded with a high-capacity magazine capable of shooting 31 rounds. He was not injured in the shooting, according to police, and an attorney for him could not immediately be reached for comment.
Another 15-year-old was taken to Harlem Hospital in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his left knee, Rivera said, adding that police were still looking into whether the teens were struck by NYPD gunfire. Police were also investigating how many people were involved in the initial dispute and shootout, Rivera said.
NYPD data through Sept. 14 shows shootings were down 44% in the 25th Precinct, which includes East Harlem, compared to the same point last year. Local organizations and law enforcement officials have been closely coordinating over the past several years to reduce gun violence in the neighborhood after a surge during the pandemic, Gothamist has reported.
Citywide, shootings have fallen about 20% since last year, according to police data.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and has been updated with additional details.
To learn more about gun violence patterns across New York City, check out Gothamist’s map of shooting incidents over the past five years.
Tagged
east harlem
manhattan
public safety
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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