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NYPD Investigates Holiday Harlem Shooting Spree

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May 27, 2008 1:48 pm US/Eastern

NYPD Investigates Holiday Harlem Shooting Spree

8 Victims Total, 6 Teenagers

Reporting
Magee Hickey
NEW YORK (CBS) ― Police spent much of Tuesday morning at St. Luke's Hospital and Harlem Hospital trying to speak to the six teenage victims of a Memorial Day nightmare. 

Police are hoping at least one of them will give in to presure, perhaps out of anger and give police some information about the gunmen responsible for a string of shootings in Harlem that sent eight people, including the half dozen teens, to nearby hospitals with gunshot wounds.

Police believe the shooting spree that spanned more than seven blocks in the heart of Harlem began in Marcus Garvey Park at 124th Street around 10:15 p.m. Monday, and that the motive might have been revenge.

From her terrace on 132nd Street, Carmen Colon saw the aftermath of the rampage as police closed off block after block in the heart of Harlem. The shooting exploded north to West 131st Street, leaving six victims in the street between the ages of 13 and 20. Most of them were found at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue.

The first teenager was shot on the corner of Lenox and 125th. The second was riding a bicycle when he was shot in the middle of the street. He pedaled about 30 feet before falling off. A 13-year-old was shot in the leg and a 16-year-old in the foot.

The final and most seriously injured victim was found in front of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office building.

"You're on your terrace, and I hear 'Bam, bam, bam.' I am afraid. I go to work and I come back home," neighbor Carmen Colon said.

Police believe a teen who had been jumped earlier in the day may have headed down Lenox to get revenge on his attackers.

Two shootings, one a half hour earlier on west 131st and one a half hour later, may not be related.

Residents and tourists were frightened. "We live right up the street on 129th. I work late until 4 a.m. It's scary. This kind of stuff right in your backyard, it's frightening," Harlem resident Morality Dotson said.

Tourist Eva Nick said, "I think it's awful. We went to the Lenox Lounge to hear some jazz... awful."

"This is supposed to be a safe playground, it's unspeakable," neighbor Christopher Harrison said.

"It's self-genocide. What does a life mean to anybody? What's up with us? What does a life mean? What's the mentality of that?" neighbor Michael Butler asked.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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