Innocent bystander dead, 5 others — including 2 teens — injured after shooting inside Bronx subway station in scary rush-hour scene
An apparent innocent bystander was killed and at least five others – including two teenagers – were injured when gunfire erupted on a subway train as it pulled into a Bronx station during rush-hour Monday afternoon, police and law enforcement sources said.
At least 10 shots were fired at the Mount Eden Avenue station after a fight between two groups of teenagers broke out aboard a northbound 4 train at around 4:40 p.m., creating “total pandemonium,” according to witnesses and police.
A 35-year-old man was killed after he was shot in the chest, police and sources said.
His identity was not released pending family notification, but he did not appear to be an intended target, sources said.
“Today another senseless act of violence occurred on our transit system,” NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tanya Kinsella said at a press conference Monday evening. “We have innocent victims and we want New Yorkers to know that we will get you, whoever was responsible for this.”
A 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, a 29-year-old woman and two men, ages 71 and 28, respectively, were also shot. The five surviving victims were hospitalized in stable condition.
“We don’t believe this was a random shooting. We don’t believe this was just an individual shooting indiscriminately onto a train,” said NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper.
“We believe this shooting all stemmed from a dispute between two groups that started on the train,” he said.
As the train pulled into the Bronx station and the doors opened, at least one individual pulled a gun and started shooting, according to Kemper.
While horrified straphangers began to flee, the gunfire spilled onto the platform, he said.
The victims included members of the feuding groups and innocent bystanders, Kemper said.
It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the altercation.
Kemper called the subway shooting “extremely rare and unacceptable.”
“This is unacceptable. And when detectives make an arrest – and notice I said ‘when,’ because I’m very confident they will – there must be swift, immediate, strong consequences,” he said.
Luis Rodriguez, 34, said he heard two kids “screaming,” but didn’t know more because he ran from the commotion after getting off the train.
“It was total pandemonium,” he said. “It makes you scared to ride the train.”
A woman who called 911 from her nearby apartment said she saw three teenage boys on the train tracks after hearing more than 10 gunshots.
“Two of the kids were arguing and one of them took off,” the woman, who did not want to give her name, told The Post. “The other two just stood there. One of the guys was pacing back and forth and the other guy just sat down.”
As a group of people were getting off the train, they pointed fingers at the group and yelled at them to get off the tracks.
“I was so scared, like, what are these kids doing? They had book bags on. I’m assuming they were kids,” she said.
Investigators were still reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses, police said. Working video cameras were at the station, police said.
“Just to the shooter, you are now NYPD’s most wanted and you have the greatest detectives in the world looking for you,” said Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard. “We suggest you turn yourself in because you’re not going to make it.”
Trains on the 4 line were bypassing the Mount Eden Avenue station in both directions into Monday night, transit officials said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the MTA was directed to provide “all necessary support” to the NYPD during the probe.
“We’re deeply grateful to the NYPD & other first responders working to address this situation,” Hochul said in a social media post.
