Incident Captured on Video; Girl Shielded Younger Brother with Her Body
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that an alleged gang member from Manhattan has been indicted on Attempted Murder, Assault, Reckless Endangerment and additional charges for shooting a Bronx man at close range near two young children on a Mount Eden street in broad daylight.
District Attorney Clark said, “A 13-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother were on their way to a store when the defendant, an alleged gang member, allegedly fired a dozen shots at a Bronx man,striking him three times. As bullets flew, the brave girl grabbed her younger brother and shielded him, while other bystanders on the street ran for cover. By the grace of God everyone survived. The resilient children have been getting assistance and services since the incident happened, and we hope they will recover from this terrible near-death experience. We will not allow gun violence to continue to plague our streets and threaten the safety of our children.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Michael Lopez, 27, of 1430 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, was arraigned today on three counts of Attempted Murder in the seconddegree, two counts of first-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, four counts of second-degree Assault, first and second-degree Reckless Endangerment, third and fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, three counts of third-degree Assault, three counts of second-degree Menacing, Possession of Ammunition and three counts of second-degree Harassment before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. The defendant was remanded and is due back in court on November 12.
According to the investigation, on the afternoon of June 17, 2021 near 1551 Sheridan Avenue, the defendant got off a scooter and chased a 24-year-old man, allegedly a gang member, up the block, firingmultiple shots at him. His target ran into a 13-year-old girl and her five-yearold brother, knocking themto the ground. The girl shielded her brother as the defendant continued to fire shots at his target. The defendant then fled the scene. The man was struck once in the back and once in each leg and was taken to a local hospital. He is currently unable to walk and is undergoing long-term care. The children, and other innocent bystanders who were in the vicinity when the shooting happened, were not injured.
The defendant allegedly fired at least 12 shots during the incident. The shooting was captured on video. Lopez was arrested on June 25, 2021.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Curtis Cato of the 44th Precinct for his work in the investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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