Investigators released surveillance images after a 5-year-old was grazed by gunfire outside a Bronx bodega.
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Police in the Bronx released surveillance video Thursday of three men wanted in a shooting that left a 5-year-old girl wounded after gunfire erupted on a crowded commercial block in the Longwood neighborhood the evening before.
The girl suffered a graze wound to her ear after shots were fired near a bodega on Southern Boulevard around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, according to investigators. Authorities said the child was not the intended target and was believed to have been walking with her mother when gunfire broke out between groups of young men near the storefront. The child was taken to Harlem Hospital and listed in stable condition as detectives reviewed surveillance footage and searched for suspects.
Police said the shooting happened outside 1007 Southern Blvd. during a busy late-afternoon period when residents and shoppers were still moving through the area. Investigators said at least one gunman opened fire toward another group standing near the sidewalk in front of the bodega. Witnesses said several shots rang out in quick succession, sending pedestrians scrambling for cover. Glass on the store’s front door shattered during the exchange. Mohammad Haalb, who was nearby when the shooting started, said people immediately began running in different directions after hearing gunfire. “Everybody, they’re scared,” Haalb said. “I hear five times, the shots.” Officers responding to emergency calls found the child injured and quickly transported her to the hospital.
On Thursday morning, police released surveillance video and photographs showing three men investigators believe were involved in the shooting. Authorities described all three as men with dark complexions. One suspect was seen wearing green headgear, a black sweater and a brown backpack. A second suspect wore a black sweater, black sweatpants and a black backpack. The third suspect was seen wearing a black sweater with a white logo on the back, gray jeans and black sneakers. Detectives said the men appeared to be firing toward another group on the street before fleeing the area. Investigators were also reviewing video from nearby businesses and NYPD cameras to identify additional people connected to the shooting. No arrests had been announced by Thursday afternoon, and police said the motive remained under investigation.
The shooting renewed concerns about violence affecting children in New York City neighborhoods where gunfire has erupted in public spaces. Residents in Longwood said the area around Southern Boulevard is often crowded during the afternoon and evening with shoppers, commuters and families. Michele Ali, who lives nearby, said she was shocked a young child was injured on a busy street lined with businesses. “Something like this should never happen with children around,” Ali said. The shooting also followed several other recent incidents in the Bronx involving stray bullets and young victims. Police officials have repeatedly warned about disputes between neighborhood crews and gang-affiliated groups escalating into public shootings. In previous Bronx gun cases, investigators said innocent bystanders, including children, were caught in crossfire while suspects targeted rivals in broad daylight.
Investigators spent Thursday canvassing the area for additional evidence and speaking with witnesses who may have seen the gunmen before or after the shooting. Detectives were also examining shell casings and reviewing whether the weapons used in the attack could be connected to other crimes in the borough. Officials said no charges had been filed as of Thursday evening, but police expected additional surveillance footage to help identify the shooters and determine whether more than one person fired a weapon. The NYPD asked anyone with information to contact investigators as the search continued. Officials said the girl is expected to recover from her injury, though detectives continued to classify the shooting as an assault involving a child victim. Additional police patrols were visible along Southern Boulevard on Thursday while the investigation remained active.
Residents gathered near the crime scene Thursday as detectives worked behind police tape and officers moved in and out of nearby businesses seeking video footage. Several people said they still felt shaken after hearing shots in the middle of the afternoon. One worker at a nearby shop said customers dropped items and ran for safety when the gunfire started. Others said they feared more violence could follow if the shooters were not quickly arrested. Community members watched as officers photographed shattered glass and marked evidence near the storefront entrance. Parents walking children home from school slowed near the scene while discussing the shooting with neighbors. Police said investigators would continue searching for the suspects overnight and planned to release additional information if arrests were made.
The investigation remained ongoing Thursday night as detectives continued reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Police said the child was recovering at Harlem Hospital while officers searched for the men seen in newly released video connected to the shooting.
Author note: Last updated May 14, 2026.