Uniformed NYPD officers were standing just half a block away investigating an unrelated matter inside Maria Hernandez Park when gunfire erupted in front of 202 Starr Street on the afternoon of October 8, sending them running toward a 54-year-old man who had been shot in the leg. Three unidentified individuals were involved in the confrontation, according to the NYPD Crime Stoppers account, which says one person brought a firearm to the scene, a second displayed and fired it, and a third took possession of the weapon before all three fled south on foot down Knickerbocker Avenue.
Officers who heard the shots were able to locate the wounded man within moments, according to Grime Square, which reported that police were already on scene nearby when the incident unfolded. Local residents identified the victim by the nickname “Tree,” describing him to the outlet as a familiar presence in the neighborhood known for playing music on a large portable speaker. He was taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition following the shooting.
The NYPD Crime Stoppers…