Police arrested a second suspect in the wild shootout that left a 5-year-old girl grazed by a bullet outside a Bronx deli, cops said Thursday.
The 16-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon for the May 13 gun battle. His name is being withheld due to his age.
His arrest follows the capture of another suspect, a 15-year-old boy, on Saturday who faces identical charges.
Police released images of three suspects wanted in the shooting.
The little girl was holding her mom’s hand when three men opened fire on a rival group near Southern Blvd. Gourmet Deli and Juice Bar in Longwood about 5:40 p.m., police said.
“There was a group of guys, around 12 of them, and I said to my daughter, ‘Come on girl, they about to start fighting,’” the 42-year-old mother told the Daily News. “As soon as I said those words to her, they started shooting.”
The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, saw a young man snatch a large bag of weed out a rival’s hands moments before shots rang out on Southern Blvd. near Westchester Ave., she said.
The mother heard about 10 shots as she grabbed her daughter and ran into a nearby beauty supply store to take cover.
After a police officer confirmed the girl had been grazed behind her right ear, medics rushed her to Harlem Hospital.
“It’s an open wound so she’s on antibiotics right now through an IV,” the mother said, adding that her daughter is also being given pain medication.
Police were investigating a gang connection between the groups involved in the shootout, sources with knowledge of the case said.
Anyone with information regarding the other two suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.