A little boy and his father were shot with BB gun pellets, and now police are searching for two suspects in what’s being investigated as a hate crime in a Jewish community.
As CBS2’s Kristie Keleshian reports, it was a traumatic experience for a 7-year-old boy, who could be seen on surveillance video flinching after being grazed in the ear by BB gun pellets when walking out of the supermarket with his dad, who was hit in the chest.
Police are looking for a black Ford Mustang with no license plates. There’s been no description of the two suspects they’re looking for.
“I’ve been living here for five years and I’ve never heard of something like this happening in this area. That’s not something that we hear, and hopefully this is the last time,” one area resident said.
It happened right outside the exit of the Island Kosher supermarket on Victory Boulevard at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The NYPD is working closely with local safety patrol Staten Island Shomrim.
“The Staten Island Jewish community is very disturbed by this incident. Thank God the victims weren’t severely injured and are OK. We at the Staten Island Shomrim are working closely with NYPD’s 121 & Hate Crime detectives to identity and apprehend those responsible these acts. We can all be very confident this will be resolved quickly, the NYPD detectives are the best in the world,” the group said in a statement.
The boy and his dad were wearing their yarmulkes at the time, and Staten Island Shomrim says the boy’s ear is now swollen by the pellets. Both refused medical attention.
It’s being investigated as a hate crime.
“Could be. I mean, it wouldn’t shock me,” said Staten Island resident Aliza Rosner.
“It’s definitely something that is possible and we don’t want it to happen again and hopefully it will not,” one person aid.
The incident surprised neighbors, who know Meiers Corners as a quiet neighborhood, but they’re all too used to hearing about hate crimes. The NYPD says they’ve gone up nearly 20% since last year.
“You go down to Manor Road, there’s a deli that they throw out all kinds of leaflets, antisemitic leaflets. They’re against Blacks, they’re against people,” one person said.
“How does it make you feel? Does it make you more on edge living here?” Keleshian asked.
“No. It happens, it happens in the city,” the person said.
“I hope that person turns him or herself in,” another person said.
“It’s very troubling. I have children and grandchildren here in this community. We live here and it’s very peaceful and when you hear something like that happening, it’s very scary,” one person said.
“This is a big Jewish neighborhood with shopping and everything out here. Whether you’re Jewish or not, it’s terrible. It shouldn’t happen to anybody,” one person said.
“We’re all brothers and sisters here. We all love each other, and it should all be peaceful,” said another.
Staten Island Shomrim has spoken with the father and little boy, who say they’re doing OK physically, but that the little boy is of course very traumatized by this.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
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