Published on: December 23, 2024, 02:38h.

Last updated on: December 23, 2024, 02:38h.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers are actively searching for the individuals responsible for injuring two men at a suspected illegal gambling establishment in a Queens, N.Y. neighborhood.

A shooting took place at a Haight Street building in the Flushing section following an apparent failed robbery attempt.

One victim, a 37-year-old man, sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in critical condition, as reported by the New York Daily News.

The second victim, a 42-year-old man, was also wounded by gunfire and was taken to the same hospital for medical attention. He was shot in the cheek, according to the Daily News. His current condition has not been disclosed.

The NYPD was notified about the shootings around 9:20 p.m. on Thursday.

Three Suspects at Large

Authorities are seeking three male suspects, potentially of Hispanic descent, in connection with the incident. They fled the scene in a white SUV, possibly accompanied by a female individual.

The vehicle may have sustained front-end damage, as per police reports. As of Monday, the shooters remain at large, according to New York TV station WPIX.

During the weekend, NYPD officers were actively searching for surveillance footage that could help identify the suspects, as outlined in the Daily News. Investigators were seen combing the crime scene for evidence on Friday, with the area cordoned off near the site of the shootings.

Underground Gambling Rooms

According to a local business owner cited by the Daily News after the shootings, there are several underground gambling rooms in the vicinity.

“I think this occurs frequently. It’s just that this time people were shot,” stated the cabinet maker. “This area is currently in turmoil.”

“When I witnessed the police locking down the street, I immediately informed my colleague that I plan to relocate,” the cabinet maker added. “I even messaged my landlords, saying, ‘I might move out in two months,’ because this street is hazardous.”

Violence rarely erupts in these gambling dens. However, when it does, nearby residents are left feeling fearful, according to individuals spoken to by the Daily News.

“It genuinely terrifies people,” expressed one worker to the newspaper.