Amanda Chauan, 9, was shot in the stomach. (
)
LOOKING FOR HELP: Police put up a reward poster for information into the shooting of a 9-year-old. (G.N. MIller)
An adorable 9-year-old girl was shot in the Bronx last night — one of three tragic cases in which a child has been struck by a stray bullet in the past month, police sources said.
Amanda Chauan was playing outside with her brother near Bailey Avenue and West 234th Street in Kingsbridge at 9:30 pm, when a shooter riding a bike fired six gunshots, one of which grazed her stomach, causing a wound, police sources and witnesses said.
The young girl screamed and stumbled into the lobby of her building, where neighbors had ducked away from the gunfire, residents said.
“I was waiting for elevator and saw people rushing in and screaming, ‘She got shot!’ The little girl was panicking. She was screaming,” said neighbor, Joanny Jimenez, 19.
Chauan collapsed in the lobby and her father then grabbed her and rushed her to North Central Bronx Hospital, family friends said.
“She’s my baby. This is so difficult,” said friend Ana Moldano.
She’s now at Jacobi Medical Center is stable condition, police sources and friends said.
Cops say suspect is 15 to 20 years old and was wearing a white shirt and dark jeans. The child wasn’t likely wasn’t the intended target of the shooting, police sources said.
Police were also looking for a man riding a bike, but questioned and cleared him today.
Chauan is in third grade, loves trips to the zoo and basketball, her friends said.
“She is may favorite of her sister and brother. She’s funny and she let me use her iPad. I don’t like to think about [ her shooting] because it makes me sad,” said an 11-year-old pal.
The NYPD, Mayor’s office, and Crime Stoppers are now offering a $22,000 reward.
NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS.
It’s the third time in recent weeks that innocent children were struck by flying bullets intended for someone else. Brooklyn fifth-grader Tayloni Mazyck, 11, was left paralyzed after she was shot in the head by gang crossfire in Brooklyn May 28.
Just 10 days earlier, Queens teen Daja Robinson.was shot and killed when a gunman opened fired into the Q6 bus she was riding in.
Kevin McClinton, 21, allegedly killed the 16-year-old Robinson trying to settle a Facebook beef he had with another passenger.