Pre-dawn quiet in the Wakefield section of the Bronx was shattered early Tuesday when a man was shot in the back, leaving neighbors on edge and police searching for answers. Officers found the wounded man at the scene and he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where officials say he is expected to pull through. Detectives are now canvassing the area for anyone who saw or heard what happened.
Police responded to 47188 Bullard Ave. just after 2:30 a.m. and discovered a man with a gunshot wound to his back, according to News 12 The Bronx. EMS transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where authorities said he is expected to be OK. No arrests had been made at the time of the report while investigators processed the scene and combed the block for clues.
Wakefield has seen recent gunfire
The shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents that residents say has them watching the clock whenever they hear a noise outside before sunrise. The neighborhood has seen multiple shootings this year, adding to that unease in the early morning hours.
In March, two men were wounded in pre-dawn gunfire in the same neighborhood, an incident that also sent at least one person to St. Barnabas and highlighted rising shooting totals in the precinct, according to Two Men Wounded in Wakefield.
How to help the investigation
Police are asking anyone with information about Tuesday's shooting to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can call 1-800-577-TIPS, text CRIMES (274637) and enter TIP577, or submit a tip online, per NYPD Crime Stoppers. Tips can be given anonymously, and detectives are urging residents and business owners to check any doorbell or traffic cameras for footage that could help move the case forward.
