Four children among eight shot in New York’s Coney Island

NEW YORK: At least eight people, including four young children, were shot and wounded during a mass shooting in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood late Saturday night, leaving one woman in critical condition, local authorities said.

The shooting occurred at approximately 10:37 pm (0237 GMT Sunday) on West 31st Street in Brooklyn during the US Independence Day holiday weekend.

Saturday marked the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, a holiday traditionally celebrated with large public gatherings and fireworks.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers responding to emergency calls of multiple people shot arrived at the scene to find eight victims suffering from varying gunshot wounds. All victims were immediately transported by emergency services to nearby hospitals.

According to an NYPD statement, the victims range in age from 6 to 37 years old.

The injured minors include a 6-year-old boy who was shot in the stomach, a 7-year-old boy shot in both legs, a 12-year-old boy wounded in the leg, and a 14-year-old boy who sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh.

Among the adult victims, a 21-year-old woman remains in critical condition after being shot in the chest. The remaining seven victims—comprising two men, one woman, and the four children—are currently listed in stable condition, police said.

Investigators confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene of the shooting. However, no arrests have been made, and police have not yet released any information regarding a potential motive or descriptions of suspects.

The NYPD stated that investigators are actively working to identify persons of interest.

Mass shootings and gun violence frequently spike during major holiday weekends in the United States. The NYPD did not immediately respond to an official request for further comment on the ongoing investigation.