A 69-year-old woman relying on a walker was fatally shot in the face during a daytime shooting in Harlem, New York City, on Wednesday, Aug. 27, police confirmed.
The victim, identified as Robin Wright, was struck by gunfire while crossing the intersection of East 110th Street and Madison Avenue around 12 p.m., according to the New York Police Department.
Officers arrived to find Wright with a gunshot wound to her face. She was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.
Police say Wright was not the intended target. Investigators told WABC that the shooting began after a man, who had just been mugged by two other individuals, pulled out a gun and opened fire while chasing the suspects. One of those stray bullets fatally struck Wright, who “never saw it coming,” officials said.
No arrests have been made, and police have not released descriptions of the three male suspects connected to the case. The investigation remains ongoing.
The killing has shaken Harlem residents, who expressed grief and frustration over escalating violence.
“I came out, everything was already like transpired already. Then my phone went off, and I was like, ‘A shooting, a shooting,’” one resident told reporters. “Everybody was praying in the neighborhood gathering and that’s when we all heard that the elderly lady was crossing the street and got hit in her head in the middle of the gunfire.”
The resident criticized Mayor Eric Adams, saying:
“Mayor Adams, you told us that you would keep us protected in this community. You are focusing on the wrong things. We need protection. There should be police on every corner in this community to make sure we stay safe.”
The witness also pointed out that Wright’s death marked the third killing of an elderly woman in Harlem this summer, emphasizing the loss of community history with each tragedy.
Another resident echoed the frustration, adding:
“It’s insane. I don’t understand where the funding is going as far as protection for the citizens. But something’s got to give. At what time are we safe in New York City? Please, at what time of day are we safe in New York.”
The shooting occurred in a busy area near a senior center, a clinic, and a subway station, which typically sees high pedestrian traffic but is not known as a hotspot for violent crime.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspects to contact the NYPD as the search continues.
