NYPD: Bronx bystander fatally shot by stray bullet

A woman was killed as she was walking in the Bronx Borough of New York City by a stray bullet that came from a dispute between two groups a block away, police said. 

Multiple shots were reportedly fired during the dispute, one of which struck Juana Esperanza De-Perdom in the back and killed her, said NYPD Deputy Chief of the Detective Bureau in the Bronx, Erik Hernandez. 

"We're confident this is a tragic incident. This person was just walking down the street. She had no involvement in this dispute whatsoever, complete innocent bystander," Hernandez said.

The shooting was reported at East 188th Street at around 7 p.m. When the police arrived, they treated the 61-year-old woman’s injury and transported her to the hospital. 

“We're here again to address another act of senseless violence on the streets of this city," said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. "Mindless shootings with no thought or fear of the consequences. We know this incident tonight involved a dispute among several men, we do not yet know what that dispute was about, but we do know that an innocent bystander lost her life."

“It could be any of us. We could be the one that gets that phone call. Who’s going to be next, right?” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. “And so I’m just so sad. I’m so heartbroken. I’m really going to pray for this family.”

The woman’s death comes as crime is rising in the Big Apple. New York City has seen a crime increase of 44 percent compared to the previous year. According to an NYPD report, there have been 29,608 major crime reports in 2022.