Suspects Wanted For Shooting Food Stand Worker, Subway Conductor With BB Gun In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for the suspects behind two separate BB gun shootings in the Bronx.
The NYPD says both victims were working when they were randomly shot.
The first happened shortly before 11 p.m. on Nov. 3 in the Williamsbridge section.
As CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis reports, newly released video shows four hooded suspects walking toward a fruit stand on White Plains Road.
The group first goes behind it, then emerges with one wearing all black shooting the 73-year-old worker with what police say was a BB gun. Another suspect in a gray hoodie appears to record it on a cellphone before bolting.
The worker then runs into a nearby store for help. He was treated at Jacobi Hospital for a cut to his face.
Several days later, police believe the same suspects struck again at the 219th Street subway station.
MTA train conductor Trevor Thomas says he was on board the 2 train, which he says had just pulled into the station when he was shot in the face through the open window.
"I was scared for my life," Thomas said. "It all happened so fast, but as far as I can remember, it was, like, a group of teens."
The shirt Thomas was wearing that night was bloody from the pellet, which was lodged in his nose and had to be removed.
Thomas was taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
"They could have did real damage. You know, I could have got blinded, could have went deaf. It could have been a whole lot worse. BB guns are fatal, and they can't be playing pranks like this on regular people, cannot be doing this. It's not funny," Thomas said.
Thomas, who has been on the job nearly 10 years, says it's not the first time he's been attacked. He's backed by his union, arguing more needs to be done to keep these workers safe."Renewing our call that the powers-that-be take subway safety and the protection of transit workers more seriously," said Eric Loegel, vice president of TWU Local 100.
Starting with finding those responsible so they don't strike again.
Anyone with information about the crime spree is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also be sent to the NYPDTips Twitter account or submitted online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
