An 18-year-old man was killed and four other people were injured or robbed during an early-morning car meetup in the Bronx, police said, as investigators continue searching for the person responsible.
The shooting happened around 5:42 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, on East 233rd Street near Boston Road in the Eastchester section of the Bronx. Police responding to a 911 call found 18-year-old Werling Mendez with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to BronxCare Health System, where he was later pronounced dead.
Two other people were shot during the incident. A 20-year-old woman was struck in the foot and a 22-year-old man was shot in the chest, according to police information reported by News 12. Both were taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi and were listed in stable condition. Two additional women, ages 25 and 37, were also hospitalized after being robbed, according to police sources.
The violence reportedly began with armed robberies during the car gathering.
One woman who said she was robbed spoke by phone and asked to remain anonymous because of concerns for her safety.
“We were robbed at gunpoint,” she said. She described being threatened while the suspects demanded that she remove her jewelry.
The woman said the situation became even more frightening when the cars began leaving and gunfire followed.
“I was scared. I have children. I was scared,” she told.
Police sources confirmed that the shooting stemmed from a car meetup. Investigators said an unidentified shooter opened fire before fleeing the area. No arrests had been announced as of the latest reports, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident occurred amid continued concerns over large car meetups and street racing in parts of the Bronx. In May, the NYPD arrested seven people during an overnight drag-racing incident in nearby Eastchester. Police said officers also seized vehicles and issued summonses during other recent enforcement efforts involving dangerous car meetups.
For now, investigators are working to identify the shooter and determine exactly what led to the gunfire.
Anyone with information can contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips can be submitted anonymously. The NYPD Crime Stoppers program says callers are not required to provide their names and tips are not traced.
