In a tragic turn of events that shook New York City, three individuals, including two teenagers, lost their lives in a series of shootings across the city on Sunday night, as confirmed by authorities.
The violence commenced in Harlem, where an 18-year-old woman and another victim fell to fatal gunfire. Shortly thereafter, a 17-year-old boy’s life was claimed by bullets in Brooklyn, marking a grim 20-minute span of violence, according to police reports.
Upon arriving at the Harlem scene around 7:27 p.m., officers discovered Ashley Ballard, 18, suffering from critical gunshot wounds to her back and head. Nearby, 25-year-old Harry Mendoza was found with a life-threatening head injury at the intersection of East 128th Street and Lexington Avenue, as stated by the NYPD.
Both victims were urgently transported to Harlem Hospital. Ballard, hailing from East Harlem, was declared deceased shortly after 8 p.m. Mendoza, from Upper Manhattan, fought for his life but succumbed to his injuries around 10 p.m., police disclosed.
The connection between the two Manhattan victims remains unclear, including whether they were the intended targets of the attack.
In a subsequent incident, 17-year-old Bryan Henriquez was struck by gunfire, hitting him in the neck and torso near 256 East 37th St. in Brooklyn at approximately 7:45 p.m., as per NYPD information. The Flatbush resident was rushed to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The motives behind these shootings are still under investigation, with no immediate leads or arrests reported.
This string of violence underscores the ongoing challenges facing New York City, leaving communities in mourning and authorities searching for answers.