NEW YORK (AP) — Eight people were shot Saturday night at a Fourth of July family cookout near the famous Coney Island beach in New York, including four children, according to police.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said one of those wounded — a 21-year-old woman — was listed in critical condition following the attack. The remaining seven victims were reported to be in stable condition and expected to recover.
The violence erupted in the courtyard of an apartment complex located about a block away from the well-known Coney Island boardwalk. The shooting happened not far from where the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest had taken place earlier that same holiday.
According to Commissioner Tisch, a suspect wearing a black mask opened fire into the courtyard where a family had come together for a cookout celebration. The shooter fled the scene, though investigators were able to recover a firearm.
The four children who were shot ranged in age from 6 to 14 years old — specifically ages 6, 7, 12, and 14, Tisch confirmed. She also noted that there had been no reports of any trouble or disturbances at the gathering before the shooting took place.
