A woman, aged 30, was unexpectedly caught in the crossfire and injured while shopping at a bustling outdoor plaza in downtown Brooklyn. The incident occurred in broad daylight on Monday, according to police and sources familiar with the situation.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound to her leg around 2:15 p.m. as she stood in front of the Primark clothing store located at Albee Square, near Fulton Street, authorities reported.
“Everyone heard a loud bang,” a worker from the Lidl food market shared with The Post.
Initially, many believed the sound was just children playing with firecrackers. However, it soon became clear something more serious had happened when they saw a woman lying on the ground, the worker recounted.
“As soon as the gunshot rang out, people scattered in different directions,” the employee added.
The victim, who was carrying two shopping bags at the time, appeared disoriented while on the ground, the worker noted.
A witness named Jessica said the victim ” slowly rolled up her pants leg on the left leg,” with medics and cops quickly descending on the scene.
“They brought her a chair, and she sat down,” Jessica said. “She rolled up more of her leg and you can see blood coming out.
“I think the victim was very stunned because she didn’t yell or scream or anything. For the longest [time], nobody really knew what happened to her.”
“She looked like everybody else there, on their way shopping or on their lunch break,” said the witness, adding it appeared the victim was either on her way to or had just left the nearby Target.
Another Lidl worker added, “It’s a dangerous city out here.
“She was just an innocent bystander ”
A photo of the aftermath showed the victim sitting on a stretcher with her hand over her forehead as first responders surrounded her.
She was taken to Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition and “conscious and alert,” authorities said.
The suspected gunman, last seen wearing a black hat, black face mask and blue sweatpants, fled west on Fulton Street, sources said.
The motive for the violence remains under investigation.
“Scary incident in Downtown Brooklyn this afternoon,” wrote city Councilman Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, on X.
“Young adults had a fight & there were gunshots. A bystander on Albee Sq West was shot, but fortunately she did not suffer life threatening injuries.
“We are in touch with precinct and will push for steady NYPD presence in area.”
