July 22, 2021- 2:20 p.m.
The NYPD opened fire to stop a gun battle on a Bronx street corner on Saturday night — and when the smoke cleared, one man was dead and two others, including a pedestrian, were injured.
Police rushed to Findlay Avenue and East 166th in Concourse Village at 6:30 p.m., after two gunmen began spraying bullets at the intersection, leaving one apparent rival dead, police said.
It was still daylight when three uniformed cops opened fire to engage the two gunmen, injuring one of them, police said. During the gunfire, a stray bullet struck an innocent bystander in the arm, police said. That victim’s identity was not revealed Saturday night.
“Officers immediately rendered aid to that victim including the application of a tourniquet and a quick clot to the wound,” NYPD Assistant Chief Kenneth Lehr told reporters.
It was unclear whose bullet struck the bystander. None of the cops involved were hurt, police said. Charges were still pending against the two gunmen, and there were no further suspects being sought Saturday night. Police did not immediately release the names of anyone involved.
Arriving cops “observed two males, each armed with a firearm, discharging their firearm towards a third male fleeing and running in the direction of the officers,” Lehr said.
The suspects fled down the street, and turned onto College Ave. “At that point, they encounter two uniformed officers on a foot post,” Lehr said.
“The gunmen then tossed their firearms under a nearby van and were taken into custody without incident.” The rival who the two men had been shooting at died after being struck multiple times by his pursuers’ bullets, police said. Photographs from the scene show neighbors walking around crime tape where about a dozen bullet shells lay scattered on the sidewalk.
“I just heard shots and I threw myself on the floor. I stood at the door and I see someone lying in the middle of the street,” witness Mike Hernandez told The Post.
“Trust me it was a lot of shots. It was a lot of shots,” said Hernandez, a 26-year-old worker at El Pollo #1 Deli Grocery at the intersection. “I don’t even know what to tell you honestly,” he added. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen stuff like this before. It’s nothing new.”
