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Police: Boy, 9, Struck By Stray Bullet In The Bronx; Suspect At Large

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A young boy has been hospitalized after being shot in the Bronx and now police are looking for the shooter.

The 9-year-old was hit in the leg by what was believed to be a stray bullet around 6:15 p.m. Monday. The incident happened on Gerard Avenue and E. 157th Street in the Concourse section of the borough.

Crime tape could be seen where young children play outside their apartment building every night. The boy was caught in the crossfire and struck in the left leg. He was taken to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition.

"All I heard was the first shot and then I looked out the window," witness Miguel Domenech told CBS 2's Jessica Schneider. "All I saw was a guy walking with a gun...that was the only thing I saw."

Police said a man around 18 to 20 years old fired a gun and fled south on 157th Street on foot.  He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and multicolored hat.

Since June, nine children and young teens have been hit by stray bullets, police said. One child, 4-year-old Lloyd Morgan, was killed while watching a charity basketball game.

Sidney Flores lives in the neighborhood and was handing out posters Monday, saying the violence must end and offering a $1,000 reward to get illegal guns off the streets.

"I'm out here to tell the people we need to take our streets back. We need to patrol our neighborhoods, form community volunteer groups, and really take back our streets," Flores said.

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