A 17-year-old teenager from Staten Island has been charged with the attempted murder of a 16-year-old girl following a shooting incident that unfolded near the historic Stonewall Inn during the Pride celebration last month. According to Gothamist, the boy faces additional charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, articulated the NYPD. The incident was reported to have occurred as Pride events were concluding on June 29.
According to a report by The New York Post, the initial gunshots were fired by a 16-year-old girl aiming at a male target, who was part of a rival group. In an apparent attempt to retaliate, the 17-year-old suspect discharged his firearm into the crowd, subsequently hitting his own friend in the head. The wounded 16-year-old girl's weapon was later found next to her on the ground.
The incident also left a second teenager injured—a 17-year-old girl from New Jersey who was not involved in the altercation and sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound during the chaos. “I prefer this to organizing a wake and picking out caskets,” said the victim’s mother, Star Lopez, in a statement obtained by The New York Post, expressing relief that her daughter survived. In a separate but related development, another girl connected to the first shooting victim was stabbed during the disturbance, adding to the overall severity of the situation.
The 17-year-old who allegedly fired the shot that injured his friend remains in police custody pending arraignment. The NYPD is continuing to investigate the events leading up to the shooting.
