A young brother and sister who were nearly shot dead by a gunman in the Bronx on Thursday after he opened fire in the street were welcomed by the Yankees on Sunday along with their parents.
Christian, five, and his older sister Mia, 13, were hosted by the Yankees on Sunday along with their mom, dad and baby sister, three days after nearly being killed. The kids waved happily for cameras at Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
The gunman has still not been caught. He was filmed on surveillance cameras in Mount Eden opening fire on a Hassan Wright, 24, at 6.45pm.
Wright was behind the kids on the sidewalk and the gunman – wearing all black, a hood and a mask – chased him from behind.
The 24-year-old was trying to get into a laundromat to escape the shooter when he barreled into Mia and Christian, knocking them to the ground.
Christian, five, and Mia, 13, with their parents – who do not want to be named – and baby sister at the Yankees game on Sunday. They were hosted by the team
The kids were in high spirits and waved for the cameras. NYC politicians who visited them at home beforehand said they’re still shaken up. Christian won’t leave his father’s side, NYC Mayoral candidate Eric Adams said. Mia, who tried to protect her brother, told them she wants to be a cop when she’s older
The children were walking home from a store on Thursday night, at 6.45pm, when an unidentified gunman chasing Hassan Wright (left, in red) started shooting at them. Wright tried to get into a laundromat to escape his attacker but in the process, he barreled into the kids and knocked them over. The kids were trapped under his feet as the shooter fired at him. Miraculously, neither of the kids were hit. Wright was struck in the back and legs but survived and is in hospital. Cops continue to hunt the gunman, shown right
Mia and her brother were walking home together from a store. Mia tried to protect her brother while also trying to get the pair back on their feet. The callous gunman had no concern for the fact they were caught in the crossfire and kept shooting. He then fled on the back of a moped
The moped driver who picked up the shooter and fled with him. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them
As Wright scrambled to get back on his feet, the kids were caught beneath his feet. Mia was filmed trying to shield Christian and also get him back on his feet while the gunman relentlessly fired at them.
Wright was shot in the legs and the back. Miraculously, neither of the kids were hit.
The suspect fled on the back of a moped and Wright was taken to the hospital where he remains in a stable condition after undergoing surgery. His mother told the New York Daily News he has no idea who shot him and is not involved in gangs.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz visited the children at their home after the incident along with NYC Mayoral candidate Eric Adams.
He said the kids are still traumatized by what happened and that Christian is too scared to leave his father’s side.
‘I wish there was a way for the entire city to sit in that living room and hear that family. That little boy won’t leave his dad’s lap.
‘That mother is shattered. Every time she looks at the video she relives it,’ he said.
Diaz said Mia told him she wants to become a cop.
‘Her first instinct was to protect her little brother. She wants to be a police officer. Get a load of that, she’s already proven to be a protector.
‘I wish there was a way for the entire city to sit in that living room and hear that family.
Crimes have been rising throughout New York City at an alarming rate. The cops say it’s down to their budget being cut and key teams like the anti-crime unit being disbanded last year at the height of the BLM movement
The NYPD has released subway surveillance camera footage of him getting on a train with no mask in an effort to identify him.
They are asking anyone with any information about him to come forward.
Adams said on Sunday that he was desperate for cops to find him.
‘We need to catch him. We need to get him. He needs to be off our streets,’ he said.
The shooting was one of hundreds that have taken place in New York City in recent months amid a violent spike in crime that is terrifying residents. Shootings across the city are up by more than 70 percent.
Adams, who is leading in the polls to become NYC’s next mayor, has vowed to reinstate the anti-crime unit – which tackles gun crime.
He also wants to rid police of clerical paperwork to put more of them back on the street.
Maya Wiley, another candidate, wants to defund the police. She doesn’t think more are needed on subways, despite a recent surge in violent attacks.