Shot Fired Near Highbridge Park Prompts NYPD Investigation

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY - A gunshot fired less than a block from Highbridge Park in Washington Heights last month has launched a police probe, authorities said.

The gunman fired the shot about 8:25 p.m. on Aug. 16 while approaching a group standing in front of 2296 Amsterdam Ave., police said.

There were no reported injuries and the shooter fled northbound, police said.

The gunman is described as a man about five feet seven inches with a slim build, black hair and black beard. He was last seen wearing red shorts and black shirt.

The shooting was roughly half a mile from the spot where two people and a dog were gunned down near Highbridge Park Friday, police said. The shooter in the incident remains at large.

As of Monday, New York City has 744 reported shooting incidents so far in 2023, according to city data. That's down about 26.6 percent from the same time last year.

In the 33rd precinct where the shooting took place, police have seen six shooting incidents so far in 2023. That’s the same number reported this time last year.

Anyone with information in regard to the incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).