A 5-year-old girl was hospitalized Friday night after being shot in the back while sitting in a car in the Bronx.
The shooting took place just after 7 p.m. at East 214th Street and White Plains Road.
According to authorities, the girl was sitting in the back seat of an older-model Nissan Maxima when she was shot.
The infant and her father were driving when they observed a public vigil for a man who was fatally shot Thursday, identified as Justin Rodríguez.
During the gathering of people, shots were fired, leaving a visible bullet hole in the back of the vehicle.
Police also said the shots were fired by people in the crowd, and were aimed at two passing cars after one of the vehicles backfired, a sound that was apparently mistaken for gunshots.
“The father had the girl, hugging her and he was going crazy,” witness Zolia Peguero said. “He was saying, ‘my daughter, my son, my son, help, help,’ and then the policeman came.”
The minor was taken to Montefiore Medical Center, where she is in serious but stable condition.
So far the motive for the shooting is unknown.
A person of interest was arrested overnight and has since been released.
No further arrests have been made in connection with the case.
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