79-year-old bystander among two injured in University Heights shooting
Investigators say the shooting happened around 1:23 p.m. near West 183rd Street and University Avenue.
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A 79-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a shooting in University Heights, according to police and law enforcement sources.
The shooting happened around 1:23 p.m. near West 183rd Street and University Avenue.
Video from the scene showed officers helping the elderly woman as she lay wounded on the sidewalk. Witnesses described a chaotic scene and said the woman appeared to be an innocent bystander.
“You could see blood coming out of her side,” one witness could be heard shouting on a video posted on Citizen App.
Another witness said the 26-year-old man was sitting outside 103 W. 183rd St. when two men approached and shot him in the leg.
The same witness said the man then returned fire. Police sources say a stray bullet struck the 79-year-old woman in the leg during the exchange of gunfire.
Both victims were taken to the hospital in stable condition.
The 26-year-old man, now identified as Matthew Bonilla, is facing charges including attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Residents expressed shock that an elderly woman was caught in the crossfire.
“That’s crazy. Recover from a bullet at that age, you know,” said Rashad, who was walking nearby when the shots rang out.
“These shootings, we don’t know what they be happening for — they just happen in an instant, you know,” he added.
