Police are searching for the person who fatally shot a 16-year-old boy in the head in SoHo.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 around 2:30pm on Spring Street between Varick Street and Sixth Avenue in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.
The victim, believed to be around 16 years old, was shot in the back of the head and twice in the leg while in the outdoor Urban Plaza, a public courtyard space on private property.
The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Multiple suspects on Citi Bikes were involved in the shooting and fled the scene immediately after.
Police are investigating whether the victim was a student at the nearby Broome Street Academy high school4.
The location of the shooting is near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel, which could have complicated the evening commute in the area
The incident happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon near Varick and Spring Streets, a busy area for Manhattan tourists, bustling with shopping, hotels and exhibits.
According to authorities, teens were hanging out in an urban plaza when a fight between two groups of girls broke out.
Investigators think the victim intervened, and at some point, two gunmen showed up on a CitiBike and opened fire, shooting the victim in the back of the head and right leg.
The 16-year-old was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Neighbors said they were surprised to learn of the deadly shooting.
“We never really have shootings too much. Muggings, yeah, but never shootings, like this,” said Thomas Libonati, who lives nearby. “What can you do? Things happen. It’s happening rampantly all over the city.”
