Police were investigating a shooting on Canal Street in Lower Manhattan on Friday afternoon that left a man injured, NYPD officials said.
The shooting happened just after 1 p.m at Canal and Church streets, according to the department. It was not immediately clear what sparked the incident, but a man on the block who told Gothamist he knew the shooter described him as “paranoid.”
Idy Saurr, who sells African goods on Canal Street, said the shooter didn’t live in the area, but had come to “check on his friends.”
“I feel sad,” said Saurr, adding that he thought the man who was shot might have been homeless.
Police said the victim was shot in the back and taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. The suspect fled the scene and has not yet been caught, according to officials.
Ken Patel, who has owned a smoke and convenience shop on the corner for 10 years, said he heard what sounded like a gunshot and came out of his store to see what was going on. He said he recognized the victim as a man in his 30s who used to come into his store.
Patel added that he did not hear any arguing or yelling before the loud sound outside his store. He said he feels safe in the area and was surprised by the incident.
Shootings and homicides are relatively rare in the NYPD’s 1st Precinct, where Friday’s incident took place. Through Dec. 1 of this year, there were two shootings and three murders in the precinct, which includes parts of southern Manhattan, department data shows. Another homicide was reported on Thursday night, when police say a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the Financial District.
This is a developing story based on preliminary police information and may be updated.
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