Police Investigate Brooklyn Shooting That Damaged Assemblyman William Boyland's Car
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A New York State assemblyman and his young son found themselves caught in the crossfire on Wednesday night. No one was hurt, but the two had quite a fright.
Assemblyman William Boyland and his 8-year-old son narrowly missed being hit by bullets after the lawmaker's GMC Yukon was suddenly hit by gunfire in Brooklyn, reports CBS 2's John Slattery.
"When you hear shots, duck. So, I'm in the car like this," Boyland said, demonstrating. "So, as I came back up, I find a bullet behind me in the chair, and it's hot in the back. And at first I thought, I was shot."
1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reports: Boyland Feels Shaken
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At around 6 p.m. at Sutter and Saratoga the vehicle's rear window was shattered.
"As the light changes, three shots ring out. One shot behind, the other two in the car," Boyland said.
Not only was the rear windshield blown out, but the second shot hit the passenger seat belt. Boyland's son was in the back seat behind him.
Boyland said he stopped the car in the middle of the street to see if his son was okay.
"He jumps out and grabs me and I check him, and he's shaken up, of course," Boyland said.
Police do not believe the assemblyman was targeted, theorizing it was random gunfire possibly from a gang, yet police have posted security outside his Brooklyn office. The embattled four-term lawmaker does not believe it had anything to do with federal corruption charges, to which he's pleaded not guilty.
The case against Boyland charges he accepted money as a consultant in return for his influence on behalf of a health care group.
"That has absolutely nothing to do with what's happening here," Boyland said.
The elected official said he was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, in an area where gun violence is not uncommon.
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