The 87-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man were hospitalized in stable condition after Friday afternoon’s gunfire.
NEW YORK — Three 16-year-old boys have been arrested after an 87-year-old woman was shot in the neck and an 18-year-old man was wounded in the hip during a daytime shooting in the Bronx, police said.
The gunfire erupted shortly before 4 p.m. Friday near East 224th Street and Barnes Avenue in the Wakefield section of the borough. Emergency medical workers took both victims to Jacobi Medical Center, where they were listed in stable condition. Police believe the woman may have been struck by a stray bullet.
Officers arrested the three teenagers Saturday in connection with the shooting. Two were charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, while the third was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. Their names were not released because they are minors.
Authorities had not publicly described what led to the gunfire or said whether the 18-year-old man was deliberately targeted. Investigators were working to determine the role each teenager allegedly played and whether additional people were involved.
The shooting unfolded on a residential Bronx street during the afternoon. Images from the area showed officers securing the intersection and examining the scene after the two injured people were taken to the hospital. Police did not immediately disclose whether a firearm had been recovered.
The elderly woman’s identity was not released. Police said she was hit in the neck, but her condition was described as stable. The 18-year-old victim, whose name also was withheld, suffered a gunshot wound to the hip and was expected to survive.
The arrests came as city officials and community leaders continued to express concern about young people’s involvement in shootings. NYPD figures reported by local media show that dozens of children have been wounded by gunfire across New York City in 2026, even as overall shooting levels have remained below those recorded in some recent years.
The case also followed the July killing of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, who police said was struck by a stray bullet outside a Bronx business. That shooting was separate from Friday’s attack, but it renewed attention on the danger gunfire poses to bystanders in populated neighborhoods.
The charges against the three boys are allegations, and the cases had not been resolved as of Sunday. Police had not released information about their court appearances or whether prosecutors might seek additional charges as the investigation continues.
Author note: Last updated August 2, 2026.