New Rochelle police are investing two shooting incidents on Wednesday in the City Center area of New Rochelle, both in broad daylight at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, the other on Wednesday afternoon, about 2:40 p.m.
In the first incident, New Rochelle Police were called to the corner of Horton Avenue and Brook Street on Wednesday morning after receiving reports from Francis Deli and Fried Chicken at 51 Horton Avenue of shots fired. Police initially dismissed the report after a canvas of the area turned up nothing and it appeared the report had been a ruse. Police received a report from the owner of Francis Deli at that a person stole a container of laundry detergent during the excitement following the initial reports that a gun had been fired.
Police were told a person ran into the store saying that shots had been fired. While the store staff went outside to investigate, the person stole the container. Police believed that the report of shots fires was unfounded, a pretext for a larceny at the store.
Later that afternoon, at about 2:30 p.m. however, police learned that a person being treated at Mount Vernon hospital claimed to have struck by a bullet after being shot at the corner of Horton Avenue and Brook Street at 9:30 a.m.
The man had been taken to Mount Vernon Hospital for a psychiatric examination following a domestic incident. Once at the hospital, the person made statements that a small wound on his body was caused by a bullet following a shooting incident in New Rochelle.
“We are taking the individual’s claims at face value,” said New Rochelle Police Detective Captain Joseph Schaller. “He described an incident that matched an incident we had.”
On Wednesday afternoon came another report of shots fired at the same intersection, this time from Solution Grocery at 49 Horton Avenue which is next door to Francis Deli.
Police found 2 shell casings of an unknown caliber. There was fresj blood on the sidewalk nearby. No victim was identified in the second shooting incident.
Witnesses at the scene said that the incident began when a group of male/blacks got into an altercation. What witnesses believed were gunshots rang out and the group of young men ran west on Horton Avenue.
Police were unable to get additional information from witnesses.
“No one cared to disclose anything further,” said Schaller.
Police were unable to determine whether the shell casings were related to the first or second incident or another incidnet entirely.
No arrests have been made in either case.
Early Thursday afternoon a New Rochelle Police patrol car was parked across from Francis Deli.
