NYPD: 5 Shot, Including Suspect, After Fight Breaks Out As Bars Close In Upper Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A fight among bargoers ended with gunfire early Monday in Upper Manhattan.
The NYPD said a total of five people were shot, including the suspect. He was shot in the hip by responding officers and taken to the hospital in stable condition.
NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes told reporters officers did the right thing, and it was good they were there.
Uniformed officers were on patrol and prepared when a party at an Inwood bar turned chaotic at closing time.
"They're familiar with the establishments closing at that particular time," Holmes said. "They see a group of individuals engaged in some sort of verbal discussion."
WATCH: NYPD Presser On Inwood Police-Involved Shooting
Holmes said a group of men got into a dispute around 4 a.m. when they were leaving Magic Sundays at 11:11 Restaurant and Lounge at West 212th Street and 10th Avenue in Inwood. Police thought they successfully broke up the fight, and the two groups walked away, but one man pulled out a gun and started to shoot.
"Our officers take cover. We return fire. We hit the individual that possessed the firearm," said Holmes. In addition to that, I believe there were four other victims that were injured."
Surveillance video shows the moments after. People were seen running away from the violence.
All five men, including the gunman, were treated at the hospital and expected to survive.
Police say the suspect used a so-called "ghost gun," which are usually sold in pieces online and then assembled. They have no serial number and cannot be traced.
"There's a lot of guns in the streets," neighborhood resident Yudesca Kasse said.
Local leaders are now calling on City Hall to increase the number of officers in the neighborhood.
"In the last three months, three people have been killed in this neighborhood," said City Council member Ydanis Rodriguez.
Around the same time last week, two people were shot outside Opus Lounge. It's less than half a mile away from the scene of Monday's shooting.
Police say they don't believe the incidents are connected. CBS2 reached out to 11:11 but has not heard back.
Meanwhile, the community wants authorities to get to the bottom of the violence.
"Misbehaving, is it drinking, is it drugs? We need to know what the causes are," resident Michael Garner said.
The responding officers were not injured in the shooting.
