NEW YORK – Two men were arrested Wednesday in connection with the fatal shooting of a 7-month-old baby in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in what authorities describe as a gang-related incident gone tragically wrong.
The infant, whose name has not been released, was struck by gunfire while in a stroller near the intersection of Lee Avenue and Heyward Street around 3:45 p.m. Tuesday. Emergency responders pronounced the child dead at the scene.
‘This was a callous act of violence that stole an innocent life,’ NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban told reporters during a press conference. Police sources indicate the shooting appears connected to an ongoing dispute between local gangs, though the intended target remains unclear.
Court documents reveal both suspects – identified as Jamel Carter, 24, and Isaiah Henderson, 22 – have prior arrests for weapons offenses. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office confirms they face second-degree murder and reckless endangerment charges.
The tragedy has reignited debates about gun violence in New York City, where shootings involving bystanders increased 18% last year according to NYPD statistics. Community leaders plan a vigil Thursday evening at the shooting site.