YONKERS, NY — A 20-year-old man was killed, and four teenagers were critically wounded in a shooting near the intersection of Elm Street and Palisade Avenue at approximately 8:43 p.m. on Sunday, August 2.
According to Yonkers police, the victims were standing near the street corner when a gunman approached from across the roadway and opened fire. Authorities said the entire shooting unfolded in approximately five seconds. The 20-year-old victim, who was struck in the back, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl were also struck by gunfire. All four were transported to area hospitals in critical but stable condition. Police believe the group was deliberately targeted, although investigators are still trying to determine which individual was the intended target. Authorities said the 20-year-old man may have been an innocent bystander.
An on-duty police captain reportedly heard the gunshots and joined responding officers in pursuing the alleged gunman. A 15-year-old boy was tackled and taken into custody near the scene. Investigators recovered a loaded firearm, ballistic evidence, and surveillance footage, and currently believe the teenager was the sole shooter.
The Yonkers Police Department has classified the incident as group-related violence, with its gang unit leading the investigation. Police said there is no immediate threat to the general public but warned that officers would maintain a heightened presence in the neighborhood because of concerns about possible retaliation.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano criticized state criminal justice policies and what he described as a failure by federal lawmakers to help law enforcement remove illegal firearms from the streets and said the Yonkers Police Department had moved a mobile command unit from the Third Precinct to Elm Street and increased both uniformed and plainclothes patrols in the area.
Mayor Spano also urged against any retaliatory violence, while Acting Police Commissioner Daniel Campanini said officers would maintain a heightened presence in the area.
“Yonkers, which is just still statistically the safest city in all New York State. One of the safest cities in America. Now that tells you something, because even one crime, even one shooting, is too much for anyone of us to bear. Especially the family of that 20-year-old that is dealing with the loss of their child today. But think about this, we have to continue to be vigilant. We have to continue to do the things that we need to do to keep our community safe. And that’s why you’ll see the police mobile command unit, because we’ve taken our command unit out of the third precinct and we put it here in Elm Street. We’re taking our street back. We’re not going to let the bad guys think that they somehow have control of Elm Street. They don’t, and we’ll deal with this. And our law enforcement officers thay always do and continue to do the things that they do. I will make sure that this is surveyed. We have cameras. We have law enforcement officers that are in uniform who are not in uniform. There’s all kinds of police activity here, so for those who might think about a retaliatory strike, they might want to think again,” Spano said at the presser Monday.
The identity of the deceased victim has not yet been publicly released. The investigation remains active, and additional details—including the charges the 15-year-old may face—were not immediately available. Investigators said they believe the shooting was related to a gang turf dispute.
“The victim is merely two years younger than my own son. There are no words for a parent who has to bury their child. My prayers are with the family and the entire community,” Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy shared on Facebook.
Black Westchester will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
