Four sharp cracks cut through the quiet on Barker Avenue early Wednesday, startling Allerton neighbors out of their routines as gunfire erupted in front of 2520 Barker Ave. Police say no one was hit and no property damage has been reported, but surveillance video captured a dark-colored car racing by and a man walking along the sidewalk. For many on the block, it was a jarring, collective “what was that?” moment as residents cautiously stepped outside to see what had just gone down.
What police are saying
Officers from the 49th Precinct told News 12 New York they responded to reports of four shots, but found no bullets and no shell casings at the scene. Police confirmed there were no reported injuries and said they are combing through surveillance footage as they work to piece together what happened.
Allerton’s uneasy streak
This latest burst of gunfire comes on the heels of a daytime shooting that wounded a 14-year-old in the neighborhood, a case previously detailed by Hoodline. As gunfire in broad daylight reported, neighbors have been calling for more visible patrols and stronger camera coverage along the Pelham Parkway corridor as they grow increasingly frustrated with the recent violence.
Neighbors shaken
"I stayed in my home because I did not want to get shot," said Hopeton Clarke, who lives in a nearby senior building, according to News 12. Carmen Hernandez, a 12-year resident of the block, told reporters this was the first time she had seen anything like this on her street. Several neighbors admitted they first shrugged off the bursts as fireworks, only to learn later that what they heard was gunfire.
Police investigating, seeking tips
Surveillance video shown to investigators and to News 12 New York reportedly shows a man dressed in dark clothing on the sidewalk and a dark-colored car speeding past both a daycare and a senior-living facility. Police say they are looking for three people: a man in dark clothes, a woman in a white T-shirt and a second man who was behind the wheel of the car. Investigators are asking anyone with video or information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. Reporting also notes that NYPD data show there have been four shootings in the 49th Precinct so far this year, a trend investigators say they are closely watching as they chase down new leads.
