Teen killed, 2 injured in Kingsbridge shooting

Police are searching for four suspects in a shooting that killed a 16-year-old boy and wounded two other teenagers in Kingsbridge on Feb. 11.

The deceased, Christopher Redding, was a sophomore at John F. Kennedy High School. A 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, both shot in the leg, are expected to survive.

The gunfire erupted on W. 238th St. shortly after 5 p.m., near the McDonald's at 5765 Broadway, following what police described as a dispute inside the restaurant.

Video obtained by The Press shows panicked bystanders scattering as gunfire rings out. Seconds later, Redding collapses face down on the pavement. Two bystanders try to lift him before officers arrive.

“Some witnesses started saying it was over something very small — over ice cream or over spilled food — and it escalated,” Capt. Amadeo Oktrova, commanding officer of the NYPD 50th Precinct, said.

According to police, one of the girls involved in the argument left the restaurant and returned with a group of masked males. A fight broke out and spilled onto Broadway. Shots were fired minutes later. The first call to the New York Police Department came in at 5:12 p.m.

“One of the females left, came back with a couple of guys who were masked up,” Oktrova said. “The fight spilled outside of McDonald’s, and unfortunately when they made it to Broadway, shots were fired and three of our young people were shot.”

An employee at 238 Corner Bodega, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he stepped outside moments after the shooting.

“I came outside and I saw the boy lying there,” he said, pointing to the sidewalk outside the store. “The police were doing CPR on him for a long time, but he didn’t wake up.”

Redding was struck in the leg and upper body.

“Unfortunately, the bullet went through his chest and he succumbed to his injuries on the scene,” Oktrova said.

The three teens were taken to St. Barnabas Hospital. The 13 and 15-year-old are in stable condition and are expected to recover.

On Feb. 12, police released images of four suspects — three males and one female — who investigators say fled toward Putnam Avenue. One male was last seen wearing all black with brown boots and a mask; a second wore a blue jacket, blue jeans and white sneakers; and a third was dressed in all black. The female suspect wore a black jacket and a blue mask. 

“The detective squad is making progress on that, good progress,” Oktrova said. “We don’t have anyone identified yet, but we are going to have someone soon.”

The shooting came a day after two students were slashed and stabbed outside Marie Curie Middle School on West 230th Street and Sedgwick Avenue. Oktrova said both the alleged attacker and the victims in that case were students at the school.