In the early hours of Monday morning, a deadly shooting occurred in the vicinity of a contentious shelter for illegal immigrants in New York City.
The incident, which left one dead and two injured, has sparked renewed concerns about the escalating violence in and around the facility.
As reported by The Blaze, law enforcement officials confirmed that the shooting took place near the Randalls Island shelter at approximately 3:30 a.m. The aftermath saw three victims rushed to a local hospital. "Violence is 'becoming common practice' at Randall's Island," a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital, highlighting the growing unease surrounding the shelter.
The deceased, a 44-year-old woman, was fatally shot in the face and back, according to the authorities. Two other victims, a 32-year-old man who was shot in the throat and a 31-year-old woman shot in the back, are reportedly in stable condition. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has stated that the investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made thus far.
The authorities are on the hunt for at least two male suspects, as per WABC-TV. The suspects reportedly fled the scene, one on a moped and the other in a car bearing New Mexico license plates.
The Randalls Island shelter has been a focal point of violence since it began accommodating undocumented immigrants. Numerous incidents have been reported on or near the premises over the past year. In February, a video showing undocumented immigrants attacking NYPD officers at the shelter went viral. The footage depicted a group of officers struggling to handcuff and detain an individual, while a crowd of mostly adult male immigrants attempted to disrupt the arrest. The crowd reportedly threw backpacks and bottles at the officers as they subdued and apprehended the suspect.
A few months prior, a group of five undocumented males allegedly assaulted another man while he was eating on his bed. A security guard was also injured while trying to intervene in the altercation. In May, another security guard was assaulted after attempting to break up a fight between a couple at the shelter.
Earlier this year, a 24-year-old undocumented immigrant was fatally stabbed at the shelter following an attack by a group of men. The shelter's residents, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, have reported that the residents have divided into camps based on ethnicity, and everyone has a knife. Reports of widespread theft have also been noted.
Two suspects believed to be involved in the fatal stabbing in January are thought to be members of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. Fox News Digital has reported that the suspects implicated in Mondays shooting are also under investigation for potential links to the same gang.
The escalating violence at the Randalls Island shelter underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the facility's management and security measures. The safety of both the shelter's residents and the surrounding community must be prioritized to prevent further incidents.
Login