Police arrested a gang member who shot a man in broad daylight and narrowly missed two children on a Bronx sidewalk.
Michael Lopez, 27, was taken into custody on Friday morning, June 25, and charged in the brazen June 17 shooting of Hassan Wright, 24.
Police say Lopez has a outstanding warrants. He was previously arrested for attempted murder, armed robbery, and revenge porn for distributing graphic images of a woman.
Lopez is a member of the notorious “Make it Happen Boyz” street gang in Harlem.
Surveillance video captured Lopez chasing Wright and opening fire as Wright stumbled over two children, 13-year-old Mia Toribio and her 5-year-old brother Christian Toribio.
The children, who were strangers to Wright and Lopez, were on their way to the store to buy a loaf of bread.
Video shows Mia using her body to shield her little brother from the gunfire. Lopez escaped on the back of a scooter driven by another gang member.
Neither of the children were injured. Wright took himself to the hospital, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to his back and both legs. His condition is unknown.
Mia and Christian’s horrified parents watched the violence unfold from their apartment window.
“They saw the gunman running down the block shooting and they thought they were shooting their children,” Mayoral candidate and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said. “That little boy won’t leave his dad’s lap. When he hears a fire cracker, he thinks it’s a shooting.”
The children, their parents, and 2-year-old sister were honored at a NY Yankees game on Sunday, June 20.
