13-Year-Old Boy Talks To CBS 2 After Horrifying Shooting In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 13-year-old boy spoke from his hospital bed Thursday night about the shooting that left him seriously wounded, as police questioned a man in connection with the incident.
Suspect Kareem Potomont, 21, of Brooklyn, was in custody as of just before 7:30 p.m., police told CBS 2.
Police released photos of Potomont morning, received several tips and he was picked up in Springfield Gardens, Queens. He was being taken to the 70th Precinct police station in Brooklyn Thursday evening.
Potomont has 14 prior attests -- 13 in New York City and one in New Jersey, police sources said.
As CBS 2's Lou Young reported, Potomont was being questioned in a shooting Monday on Beverley Road and Flatbush Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn. With left Gama Droiville, 13, seriously wounded.
From his hospital bed, Droiville spoke almost matter-of-factly about the shooting that shocked the city. The choir boy said he heard five to seven shots before his life changed forever.
"Everybody was running and screaming, people falling -- it was very scary," Droiville said. I was confused, so I stood there and that's when the bullet hit me. It hit above my right eye."
Just before noon, 13-year-old Droiville was waiting for the bus with his aunt and cousin when police said a gunman opened fire on the sidewalk, aiming for another man.
Droiville hit by one bullet and was wounded in the eye and the head. The miracle of his survival was lost on no one, but he said he never lost consciousness or faith.
"I sat down, and everybody was crying and yelling, and I just told them to relax because God is with me," Droiville said.
The suspect was captured on an NYPD surveillance camera. Police said he can be seen running with a gun down by his side and then raising it as he moves off-screen.
"The individual put his hood up after the shooting, but before the shooting, we got really good video of that," Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said earlier this week. "Before the shooting, we've got a lot of video, and I would be willing to bet we'll make an arrest very quickly on that one."
Additional surveillance video from Flatbush Wine and Liquor shows a woman and children running for cover after the shots rang out. Seconds later, Droiville can be seen hobbling into a pizza shop for help.
Rufino Salazar was working and tried to stop the teen's bleeding.
"I give him napkins to clean the blood," Salazar said. "There's a lot. Bleeding a lot. So that's it, and I call 911 and ambulance."
Droiville was taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition where doctors have been trying to save the vision in right eye.
And in talking about the incident, Droiville had a simple question for the alleged gunman.
"Why did you shoot on such a busy street?" he asked.
When asked if he has forgiven the shooter, Droiville said, "God says to forgive people," although it is hard.
And for the public, the remarkable young man had a message as well.
"Just keep praying for me and thank you for all your support," he said.
The man who police believed to be the intended target was struck in the leg, authorities said. He was also hospitalized in stable condition.
Sources told CBS 2 the man told police he didn't see or recognize the shooter. He claims he only heard the shots, then felt a pain in his leg.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477), visit CrimeStoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:
