WHAT BETTER PLACE TO SHOOT AT PEOPLE THAN AT A MEMORIAL FOR SHOOTING VICTIMS?

Pistol-packing teen shot by cops at Far Rockaway memorial for gun violence victims charged with attempted murder

By Ellen Moynihan and Thomas Tracy

New York Daily News
August 11, 2018

A 15-year-old boy shot and wounded by cops in Far Rockaway after he opened fire at an event honoring gun-violence victims was charged with attempted murder and weapons violations Saturday, authorities said.

Cops were breaking up a large disorderly group at a barbecue on Redfern Ave. near Nameoke Ave. late Friday when the 15-year-old, whose name wasn’t released because of his age, began firing off rounds, NYPD Chief David Barrere said.

“The officers engaged the male and gave him verbal commands to drop the gun,” said Barrere, the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South. “The officers then fired at the male, striking him several times.”

Earlier in the day, residents were hosting an event honoring deceased tenants of the Redfern Houses, many of whom had been killed in gun violence, residents said. “Everything was going so beautiful and so peaceful,” said Shareen High, 51. “For some reason or another, a fight started here, then a fight started there, then you started hearing gunshots.”

The teen was rushed to Long Island Jewish Hospital in stable condition.

A Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun was found near him at the scene, police said. The 15-year-old was charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal use of a firearm.

Another youth was in custody for questioning.

The two officers involved in the shooting were taken to South Nassau Hospital for an evaluation.

Hundreds of people were at the second Annual Falling Angels Event to barbecue, listen to music, hear guest speakers and honor those who contributed to the community.

About 100 portraits of lost loved ones were hung up on a courtyard fence near some white balloons, a video of the event showed.

Residents said trouble began around 9:30 p.m. Friday when teens from another housing project came by and started quarreling with Redfern teens.

One witness, who would only identify himself as David, said tempers were flaring before the gunfire.

“It started as a fistfight and then shots rang out. The kids were teenagers, 16 or 17,” David said. “I saw a kid on the floor with his face busted up. There was a kid in cuffs. He was laying there on his side in cuffs, he looked motionless.”

When the gunshots rang out, everyone scattered, said Charlene Fowler.

“We had our seniors sitting up in a tent, and some of them had walkers,” said Fowler, 56, who wished the NYPD had intervened before things turned violent. “We would have rather they come in and shut it down than have it end the way it did.”

“His picture would have been up there next year,” she added, referring to the wounded teen.