Tragedy strikes Harlem after a 69-year-old woman was fatally shot on Wednesday (Aug 27) afternoon.
The victim, identified as Robin Wright, was struck by gunfire while crossing the intersection of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue around 12 p.m., according to the New York Police Department.
Wright, who was using a walker, was not the intended target according to ABC 7. She was shot in the face while standing on the sidewalk next to her friend, Juanita Arnold.
Arnold said she had gone across the street to grab takeout for lunch. Wright was just about to cross the street to go into her building.
Wright was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.
“We were just coming from the Chinese restaurant, innocently, we didn’t expect for any of this to happen,” Arnold said to the outlet.
Surveillance video shows Wright pushing her blue walker about a block or so from her apartment. Minutes later, that same blue walker would be left behind on the sidewalk next to bloody rubber gloves and yellow tape.
The suspect
Police say a man who had just been mugged by two other men chased after them and started shooting. One of those bullets struck the victim who never saw it coming.
No arrests have been made, and police have not released descriptions of the three male suspects connected to the case. The investigation remains ongoing.
The community mourns
Eyewitness News spoke to the victim’s partner Ron McNeil. “I turned on the TV, and I saw, I saw somebody’s walker, and I know she’s got that old beat-up walker,” he said. “I saw her this morning.”
He added, “And she was a real caring soul,” McNeil said. “She said hi to everybody. Everybody. Good morning. Good morning.
“She was a beautiful person, a wonderful person, she’s well known in this community,” Arnold said.
One resident questioned what efforts the government is making to protect the citizens.
“It’s insane. I don’t understand where the funding is going as far as protection for the citizens. But something’s got to give. At what time are we safe in New York City? Please, at what time of day are we safe in New York?”