A teenage boy was shot in the head in East Harlem Friday evening, police say. Natalie Pasquarella reports
A teenage boy was shot in the head in East Harlem Friday evening, police say.
The 16-year-old boy was shot in front of the Jefferson Houses complex at 3rd Avenue and 115th Street, across the street from a school and a playground, authorities said.
He was taken to Harlem Hospital and was listed in critical condition, authorities say.
Police were at the scene investigating. They have not identified a suspect or a motive.
The boy's sister-in-law, who asked not to be identified, told NBC 4 New York the victim is Juwan Tavarez, who goes by "Chico." He underwent surgery on his brain Friday evening, she said.
"I got a phone call and I just ran down the block and they just told me that Chico was shot in the head," she said.
A teenage girl who lives in the area said she was in her apartment when she heard gunshots. She looked outside the window and saw the injured teen on the ground.
Local
"I just heard about five, six shots, and they went back to back, and then I looked over and it was just a couple of boys running," she said.
Tavarez's sister-in-law said Chico is outgoing and fun-loving, "one of those jokesters -- likes to dance, likes to sing."
"He's a good kid," she said. "He went to school. He's not an A student, but he went to school, you know, he had dreams of leaving the projects."
She said police told her they were looking on Facebook to find out who was with Tavarez around that time.
The family is hoping for a miracle on Good Friday, she said.
"That's all we can pray for," she said.
