As the boom of fireworks receded from the New York City skies Saturday night, gunfire, stabbings and acts of violence were reported across the boroughs, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and injuries to more than three dozen others. Jonathan Dienst reports.
Police are investigating whether two men killed in a hail of gunfire in the Bronx on Sunday were murdered as retaliation for the fatal drive-by shooting of a father walking with his 6-year-old daughter, a senior law enforcement official told NBC New York.
Two gunmen ambushed Joel Baba, and Eghosa Imafidon, and Mohammed Baba in the hallway of 306 East 171 Street, around 8 p.m, cops said.
Baba, 22, and Imafidon, 23, were killed, while the third man, 29, was struck in the arm and expected to survive, according to police.
Investigators are probing whether their deaths were revenge for the murder of Anthony Robinson, 29, that took place just over two hours earlier and four blocks away, police sources said.
Robinson was killed by a drive-by shooter as he crossed Sheridan Avenue near East 170th Street while walking with his 6-year-old daughter.
His daughter witnessed the attack and was able to escape unharmed.
The shootings come amid a huge uptick in gun violence in the city over recent weeks, with week-over-week comparisons to 2019 show 200 percent increases in shooting victims.
News
In total, from July 3 to July 5, the NYPD recorded a total of 44 shooting incidents with 63 victims. That compares to 16 incidents and 21 victims over the same three days last year.
