Police in the Bronx are looking for a bicyclist who, they say, pulled out a gun and opened fire on a busy East Tremont block, then pedaled off into the night.
According to the NYPD, the incident happened around 9 p.m. on April 15 near East 181st Street and Bathgate Avenue. The rider allegedly discharged a firearm, then fled westbound on East 181st Street. No arrest has been announced, and the case is being investigated as reckless endangerment. Detectives are asking anyone who saw what happened, or who has video from the area, to get in touch.
What Police Have Released So Far
In a bulletin shared by NYPD Crime Stoppers, the department said that around 2100 hours on April 15, "an individual riding a bicycle discharged a firearm" in the vicinity of East 181st Street and Bathgate Avenue.
The bicyclist is described only as a person wanted for reckless endangerment. Police say the rider took off westbound on East 181st Street to parts unknown. Investigators are specifically asking anyone who was nearby and captured cellphone video or photos to preserve that footage and share it with detectives.
Bathgate Corridor Has Seen Trouble Lately
This latest search for a gun-toting rider comes as the Bathgate Avenue corridor deals with other recent gunfire. On May 24, shots near Bathgate Playground sent families scrambling, according to coverage of the Bathgate Playground shooting.
Neighbors told reporters the gunfire scattered people in the park and that police searched the area but did not make immediate arrests. Local coverage has noted that in cases like these, detectives are relying more and more on bystander video and door-cam footage to pick out suspects and piece together what happened.
What “Reckless Endangerment” Covers
Under New York law, reckless endangerment can be charged as anything from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony, depending on whether the conduct created a grave risk of death, as outlined by New York Penal Law materials.
In plain terms, firing a gun in public can start out as a lower-level charge but can be bumped up if evidence shows a depraved indifference to human life or a particularly dangerous use of the firearm.
How To Share Tips With Detectives
Anyone with information on the bicyclist or the April 15 gunfire is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), sending a direct message to @NYPDTips, or using the department’s online tip portal, as noted in local reporting.
Tips can be left anonymously, and police are putting special emphasis on preserved cellphone video from the scene, which can help detectives track movements, confirm timelines, and identify who was where. For emergencies or crimes in progress, residents are reminded to call 911.
Which Precinct Is On The Case
The intersection of East 181st Street and Bathgate Avenue falls inside the NYPD’s 48th Precinct, which covers East Tremont and surrounding neighborhoods, according to the department’s precinct listing.
Detectives there say they are reviewing surveillance video and witness accounts as they work to identify the bicyclist. Anyone who was in the area that night and has relevant footage or information is urged to reach out through the Crime Stoppers channels above.
