This past Saturday afternoon Bushwick witnessed a senseless act of gun violence. At around 2:15PM, in broad daylight, a gunman opened fire at a family near a playground at 195 Menahan St., seriously injuring five people, says NBC New York.
According to news sources, those injured were aged 22 to 66, and included two bystanders on a porch. The shooting was very likely an act of revenge, says NY Post. Rolando Pizarro seemed to be the intended target and was shot in the abdomen. His 18-year old daughter had been harassed on Friday at the McDonald’s on Knickerbocker where she works. Two men apparently teased and harassed her until, after she rejected their advances, they tossed a milkshake in her face. Frightened, she called her father, who rushed to the restaurant and filed a police report on the spot.
The community is outraged and disgusted by this gun violence. Community leaders grouped near the playground on Menahan St. early on Sunday morning and called for action. They called for stricter gun laws and urged those who witness crimes to come forward with any information.
Our hearts go out to the victims. We are deeply saddened and disturbed by this act of violence, and we wish them a speedy recovery.
UPDATE: The NYPD has released a surveillance video of a man approaching the victim. The suspect wanted in connection with the shooting is Curtis Peterson, a 23-year old man who is about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs around 160 pounds and has brown eyes and short black hair, informed Brooklyn News 12 today.
Anyone with information on the case should contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, or text CRIMES and then enter TIP577, or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com
