On a quiet Monday afternoon at the Drew Hamilton residential buildings in Manhattan, a horrific incident occurred that left one man dead and a woman injured, according to local police. Hamid Thomas, a 32-year-old resident, was enjoying his day outside when he became an unsuspecting victim of an unknown assailant. The man dressed entirely in black advanced towards Thomas around 2:37p.m., in the proximity of Frederick Douglass Blvd. and W. 142nd St. in the Harlem neighborhood.
Police reports indicate that Thomas was casually seated near the back of the housing complex. Caught entirely unaware, the 32-year-old man did not even have a chance to respond when the black-clad assailant approached him. In a horrifying series of events, the gunman unexpectedly opened fire on Thomas, hitting him in his left arm and abdomen.
In the chaos of the shooting, a 40-year-old woman running from the scene was, unfortunately, caught in the crossfire. As she tried to escape the terrifying situation, a bullet grazed her lower back. Witnesses at the scene quickly began flooding emergency lines as the brutality of the situation became apparent.
A passerby recalled the traumatic scene, stating that at least five to six gunshots echoed through the quiet neighborhood. ‘It was chilling to see the man – Thomas – he was suffering from a stomach wound. He was close to the bench when the emergency services came and they quickly got him onto the stretcher.’
Shortly after the broad daylight incident, the area descended into a chaotic scene of flashing lights as EMS arrived to provide emergency help. Both victims were rushed to the closest medical facility – the Harlem Hospital, where medical experts immediately got to work.
Despite the extensive efforts made by the medical professionals at Harlem Hospital, Thomas was unable to survive the severe gunshot injuries inflicted upon him. The unexpected loss of life cast a somber mood across the neighborhood that day. The 40-year-old woman, who had sustained lesser injuries, was declared in stable condition following treatment.
In the aftermath of the shooting, investigators arrived at the scene to gather clues. The officers discovered 10 spent shell casings scattered throughout the area, evidence of the violent altercation that had just occurred. However, they did not immediately make any arrests related to this ghastly incident.
Authorities currently hold the belief that Thomas was the specific target in the shooting, although the motivations behind this are not yet clear. The hunt is on to locate the gunman responsible for this horrid act, propelling the incident into a high-priority investigation.
The residents of the locality recounted their living conditions with a sense of resignation. One witness noted, ‘This isn’t an isolated event – such incidents occur with frightening regularity here.’ This sense of uncertainty has been prevalent amongst the community, reinforcing the need for better safety measures.
In light of the harrowing incident, the NYPD has made a plea to the general public for any information related to the shooting. The call is out for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or who may have integral information that could lead to the apprehension of the shooter.
The Crime Stoppers Hotline of the NYPD, which is 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), is open for anyone wishing to provide vital information that could assist in the ongoing investigations. The search to locate the assailant continues as the community remains in shock at the brutal act committed in broad daylight.