Mom Shot In Brighton Shooting Was Innocent Bystander To High School Brawl

Brighton 5th Court and Brighton 6th Street (Source: Google Maps)
Brighton 5th Court and Brighton 6th Street (Source: Google Maps)

A brawl between students from rival high schools sparked yesterday’s shooting that hospitalized a mom on her way to pick up her son from a nearby elementary school, sources say.

A source briefed by police on the violent outburst said that the fight broke out on Brighton 6th Street between students from nearby Lincoln High School and Grady High School. One of the students opened fire, with the stray bullet striking Safia Bibi, 34, at 2:21pm, as she made her way to pick up her two sons from P.S. 253 (601 Oceanview Avenue), just a block away.

Police confirmed to Sheepshead Bites that two groups were involved in a dispute. The victim heard a shot and felt pain in her arm. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, but the police declined to provide additional information or confirm that students from the high schools were involved..

The victim’s family told NBC New York that fights between the high school students are common.

“She’s scared, everyday scared to get the kids, it’s crazy,” Bibi’s Niece, Kainat Yasin, told the news outlet.

Bibi said the fighting teens Wednesday afternoon filled the block and she couldn’t get around them. Then three shots rang out, one of which hit her. She was treated at a nearby hospital and released with her arm in a sling Wednesday night.
“This is dangerous,” said Yasin. “If there from Grady how come the school doesn’t know they have a gun?”

No other injuries resulted from the shooting.

News reports describe the suspect as a black male, approximately 18 years old, wearing grey sweatpants and with dreadlocks.

“I am appalled by this tragic incident where an innocent bystander was shot in the arm.  I am in contact with the NYPD and I am confident that they will apprehend those responsible,” Councilman Chaim Deutsch said yesterday evening. “My prayers are with the victim and I wish her a full and speedy recovery. “