Man critically injured in shooting, woman closing smoke shop grazed by bullet in the Bronx

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, The Bronx (WABC) — A woman closing up a smoke shop was one of two people struck by bullets that flew outside a Bronx bodega.

The 37-year-old woman was closing the store on West Fordham Road in University Heights when shots were fired outside the bodega at around 1:10 a.m. Friday.

A 43-year-old man was shot once in the back and taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical but stable condition.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, heard the commotion and only realized minutes later that she had also been struck in the gunfire.

“I had already left the store, and I was walking down, and it was like a commotion going on and it was like pow, that’s it. Who was it? I don’t know, I didn’t see anything, I was turned around so, it was hot. (inaudible) I feel like the NYPD is responsible for this. They need to start doing their job. They pick and choose when they want to have a post here, it’s not right,” the victim said.

She was grazed in the right thigh and took herself to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she is in stable condition. Her injury required 10 stitches.

Police recovered surveillance video of a group in a dispute outside the bodega before the shots were fired.

The footage shows the eventual 37-year-old shooting victim wrestle a man dressed in black down to the ground. As a crowd gathers, someone wearing a red shirt approaches and appears to reach for something. Seconds later the crowd scatters in reaction to the shot fired.

One man involved in a dispute with the victim was described as being 6’2″ tall, wearing a black shirt, white sneakers, and blue jeans.

On Friday, there was a visible NYPD presence, with detectives investigating and patrol officers in the area.

Shootings in the 52nd Precinct are up 50% compared to a year ago.

No arrests have been made and the motive for the shooting is under investigation.

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