A 4-year-old boy who dreamed of being a basketball player was killed Sunday night while playing in a Bronx park after he was struck by a stray bullet from a nearby gun battle, police said. Andrew Siff reports.
A 4-year-old boy who dreamed of being a basketball player was killed Sunday night while playing in a Bronx park after he was struck by a stray bullet from a nearby gun battle, police said.
The gunfire broke out on a basketball court during a game that was being played as part of a memorial for a victim of violence, a woman who died here more than a year ago, residents said.
Little Lloyd Morgan, who was caught in the crossfire when gunshots erupted around 9:30 p.m. in the park in the Forest Houses in Morrisania, was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
"My baby is gone," said his mother, Shianne Norman.
Authorities say two other men were also shot. A 27-year-old was shot in the stomach and a 21-year-old was shot in the arm. Both are expected to survive.
"A massive amount of shots just out of the blue, and then another massive amount of shots out of the blue, and then my baby was gone," his mother sobbed.
Residents described chaos as people began running throughout the park and parents grabbed their children.
No arrests have been made. Police continue to investigate.
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Community leaders at a rally Monday night called on anyone with information to come forward.
"If you know who was involved in that crime, you need to come forward," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. "It is saving a life."
"People deserve to have weekends where they can watch basketball," said Quinn. "People deserve to have weekends where they can be outside enjoying their city."
Mayor Bloomberg, who has taken a lead role in calling for stronger gun control, extended his condolences to the child's family, as lawmakers, clergy and residents in the community planned to rally Monday afternoon to call for an end to the violence. A rash of shootings -- including several in playgrounds and ball courts -- has plagued the city in recent weeks.
Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson called the shooting "the last straw" and said he now supports Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and their efforts to reduce gun violence.
"The pastors who preach God's word are now called on to do God's work and come out and stand up for justice," he said in a statement. "If stop-and-frisk can prevent these types of crimes maybe we should have it."
Lloyd's mother begged anyone with knowledge of the shooters to come forward.
"Please please, if you find it in your heart," she said. "There's no snitching when it's a 4-year-old little boy."
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