Two young girls — one 2, the other 5 — were struck by stray bullets while playing yesterday in The Bronx, police said.
The toddler was in extremely critical condition.
The 20-year-old intended target was shot in the back just hours after he got into a fight with the suspect, police sources said.
The most seriously injured child, Patience Boyd, was with her mother just outside their apartment building on East 181st Street in West Farms, along with at least 10 other youngsters, when the shots rang out.
Police tonight arrested the suspect, Luis Moore, 23, of the Bronx in connection with the shooting. He was charged with charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal use of a firearm.
The three victims were standing near each other at around 7:45 p.m. when a gang of thugs approached and the gunman began firing wildly from about 50 feet. A witness heard at least five shots.
Another witness said, “There were a whole bunch of kids playing outside. It was peaceful. A whole bunch of guys come and just start shooting at the crowd.
“It all happened really quick. Everyone was running away.”
A shocked resident saw the man “lying on the ground, bleeding everywhere.”
Patience was struck in the head, and the older girl was grazed in the neck.
Patience was at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital last night, while the 5-year-old was in stable condition at St. Barnabas.
The man, whose name was withheld, was also in stable condition.
After the earlier dispute a block from the shooting scene, the suspected shooter warned the victim he’d be back for him, according to the sources.
The victim has at least two prior arrests. In February, he was charged with weapons possession after being picked up with a loaded gun near the scene of last night’s shooting.
He was also charged with menacing in December.
Just a week ago, a 24-year-old mother, Yaritza Pacheco, was killed by a stray bullet in The Bronx, about a half-mile from last night’s tragedy.
Additional reporting by Josh Saul
WANTED: Luis Moore of the Bronx is a suspect in the shooting, cops say. (nypd)