NYPD: 2 Gunmen Wanted After 10 Shot In Front Of Queens Business; 'A Brazen, Coordinated Attack'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are searching for four men following a mass shooting in Corona, Queens late Saturday night.
A total of 10 people were shot, including seven innocent bystanders, CBS2's Kiran Dhillon reported.
Surveillance video shared exclusively with CBS2 shows a group of men sitting on a stoop on 37th Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. Suddenly, gunshots ring out as two armed, hooded and masked men run towards them, blasting bullets.
The group members are seen running for their lives.
"This was, as I can most accurately describe it, is a brazen, coordinated attack, for a lack of a better word," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said. "Ten people were shot. Three of which are known Trinitarios gang members. We believe there were seven unintended targets."
As the victims, eight men and two women, scramble for cover, two more men on getaway mopeds then appear. The shooters jump on and race off, the video shows.
The coordinated effort appears to have robbed those in the area of their sense of safety.
"I'm considering moving out because every week there's something going on," neighbor Frank Jaquaz said.
"I have my daughter and my son. I'm very scared," Blanca Jarama added.
"It keeps happening and it has to stop throughout the city. That's gang members. That's guns. Multiple guns on the scene, scooters being used, masks and, lastly, unintended targets getting hit. This is unacceptable on our streets of New York City," Essig said.
Watch NYPD Update on Corona Shooting
One man who owns the restaurant right in front of where the shooting happened said he heard, "like 30 shots, like boom, boom, boom," adding he heard the shots and ran into his backyard for safety. "I'm very scared, very nervous, you know?"
One woman said she feels the same way. She owns a deli nearby.
Both said more patrols are needed as violence escalates in the area.
"Before I thought it was fireworks because it was kind of a funny sound, and then I heard everybody was running and I guess went down," the woman said. "That's kind of crazy. We just have to take care of ourselves and always look behind us."
Air Force veteran Jose Mencia told CBS2's Cory James he was ordering food from a restaurant on the corner of 37th Avenue and 98th Street when the violence unfolded.
"It brought me back, you know, to when I was in the combat areas. I go all the way back to Vietnam to the Middle East," Mencia said. "We need to get these guys locked up. These guys have no regard for human life."
Hours after the shooting, cars riddled with bullet holes still lined the street. Police said at least 40 shell casings and bullets were recovered.
As of early Sunday evening, police wouldn't say whether they believe the suspects are gang members, but they are asking for help from the public finding them.
"They know the area. That's why they were wearing masks. I'm always encouraging the public, please, even if you call us it'll remain confidential. Just give me something to help us solve these particular crimes like this," NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said.
The 10 victims, who range in age from 19 to 72, suffered gunshot wounds to various parts of their bodies. They were all taken to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, police said.
Anyone with information 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.
Stay with CBSNewYork.com for updates. CBS2's Cory James, Christina Fan and Kiran Dhillon contributed to this report.
