A gunman wearing all-black clothing shot a 14-year-old boy in the leg Sunday evening near a Queens park children’s playground.
The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. at the intersection of 153rd Street and Jamaica Avenue near Rufus King Park, police said.
Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene and rushed the wounded teenager to Jamaica Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
The shooter fled on foot immediately after the gunfire and disappeared into the area, according to the authorities.
Neighbors described a scene of confusion and fear as the gunshots echoed through the residential area and park grounds.
Witness Abdulahead Erragi, who watched the aftermath from his home across the street, noted that a crowd of youths fled the area.
Recalling the chaotic moments, Erragi said, “There were so many kids, together like a team, like a mafia” and added there “was a lot of drugs and a lot of smoking” among them.
Amber Logan was sitting inside the park when she was startled by the unexpected sound of shots.
Describing the sudden blast, Logan said, “There was a big bang, or a couple of bangs and then birds flying” and she realized there was immediate danger.
Expressing concerns over community safety, Logan said she intends “to find a safer place to hang out” in the future.
Police have not made any arrests and continue to investigate what sparked the violence and whether the victim was targeted.