Eight people, including four children, were shot near Coney Island in Brooklyn on Saturday evening during Fourth of July celebrations. The incident occurred around 10:35 p.m. near the waterfront at 2930 W. 30th Street, close to Surf Avenue, according to the New York Post.
Among the injured was a 33-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman, both shot in the chest. A 25-year-old woman and three boys, aged seven, 12, and 14, sustained injuries to their legs or thighs. A six-year-old boy was shot in the stomach, and a 37-year-old man was shot in the shoulder.
The 21-year-old woman was reported to be in critical condition, while the other seven victims were in stable condition and transported to area hospitals. As of early Sunday, no arrests had been made and the New York City Police Department has not released information on a suspect. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
The shooting occurred as the city was celebrating Independence Day with fireworks displays. Earlier in the evening, a fire broke out on the Brooklyn Bridge during Macy's fireworks show. The fire was extinguished around 10 p.m. local time.
These events took place amid a severe heatwave gripping the eastern United States. New York City experienced temperatures in the high 90s, following several days of triple-digit heat that strained the city's electric grid. Con Edison had requested some customers in Queens and Brooklyn to conserve energy due to the strain.
At least 20 people have died on the east coast due to the heat, with 19 suspected heat-related deaths reported in New Jersey. State authorities indicated that many of these fatalities involved individuals in homes without air conditioning, and some, including younger adults, were found outside or in parked cars.