WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, N.Y. (PIX11) — An innocent bystander was fatally shot in the head during a drive-by shooting in New York City Tuesday night, police said.
Authorities found a 66-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head near West 162nd Street and Broadway in Washington Heights at around 7:10 p.m., according to the NYPD. The man was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.
Police said the victim was not the intended target and the shooter took off in a grey Audi after the incident.
Surveillance video showed the moment bullets went flying right outside the Chop Cheese Deli, sending people running for cover. Bullets pierced holes in the door of the deli and the counter.
The victim, Reda Girgis, was on his phone just seconds before being shot, video showed. Girgis is the father of the deli owner and had just traveled from Egypt to New York City to visit his family.
“He came like three days ago,” said deli worker Gamal Abouelezz. “The man is innocent. He had nothing to do with the life over here. He just came to visit his son and he lost his life.”
There have been no arrests and the investigation remained ongoing.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
