Police Release Name Of Suspect In Shooting Outside Harlem Grocery Store That Injured 2
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police have released the name of the suspect wanted in connection with a shooting in Harlem on Monday night that left two people injured.
The NYPD has offered a reward of $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of Malcolm Smith.
Police said Tuesday they had identified the shooter, telling CBS2 he is 19 years old and has seven prior arrests.
Smith's 9mm handgun was recovered at a female friend's house in Harlem, police told CBS2. The friend has been taken into custody, police said.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, the friend was cooperating, but authorities are still looking for the suspect.
Shots rang out Monday night in front of the Key Food supermarket on Lenox Avenue and West 139th Street.
Smith shot 51-year-old Francis Norman in the abdomen after they supposedly got into a stare down, police said.
A bullet ricocheted, grazing 76-year-old Mildred Mahazu in the neck as she exited the grocery store, according to investigators.
On Tuesday, police found a bullet from the shooting in a package of chicken at the grocery store. CBS2 obtained a picture of the package shortly before police removed it as evidence.
The NYPD is now keeping a close eye on the area because the incident was the second shooting near the grocery store in the last few days.
A man was shot around 4 p.m. Sunday and taken to Harlem Hospital Center in serious condition. His wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.
In Monday night's shooting, a bus was left with a damaged windshield, and the supermarket had several bullet holes in the windows.
Mahazu told CBS2's Gainer that the whole thing went down in a matter of seconds.
"I heard bam, bam, bam, bam," she said, "And I felt this horrible pain in my face and blood gushing and I said, 'oh my god, I'm shot.'"
Mahazu was about to enter the store when the shooting started.
"So I ran into the store screaming and hollering and praying," she said.
A doctor happened to be inside.
"She said, 'just sit down, and I'm gonna put compression on your face so all the blood won't come out," Mahazu recalled.
Mahazu was rushed to a nearby hospital. It's not clear whether the bullet that hit Mahazu is the same one that punctured a window and flew straight back into the poultry section.
The victim credits her strong faith with helping her get through this.
"I love to sing, so thank goodness the bullet didn't bother the vocal cords," she said.
The great grandmother of 9 said she'll be back in church and will go back to the store because she has lived in the area for 24 years and the sound of gunshots is nothing new.
There is a $2,000 for the arrest of Malcolm Smith.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. You can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or texting tips to 274637(CRIMES), then enter TIP577.
