Two people were shot in the back Monday afternoon in Harlem at the corner of 136th Street and Adam Clayton Powell  Boulevard, police said.

As authorities began their investigation, Dr. Aesha Seqou,  the founder of Street Corner Resources, worked to make sure there’s no retaliation.

“We can't say who is right and who is wrong, we don’t know, and that’s not our job. Our job is to make sure not another shooting happens," Seqou said.

While Seqou works to quell any potential escalation, neighbors are left to deal with the fallout.

One of the victims ran inside Alla Yusef's bodega after being shot.

“I called 911, then I locked the door," Yusef said. "He came right here and that’s his blood on his floor right there,” Yusef said.

The victims were taken to Harlem Hospital and are expected to survive.

“Gun violence is plaguing our community, and for it to happen on MLK Day of all days,” said Councilman Yusef Saalam.

According to NYPD data, the number of shooting victims citywide dropped last year when compared to 2022 by roughly 26%.

But in the first weeks of the new year, shooting victims are trending upwards by 20% when compared to the same time period.

Saalam said despite last year’s gains, residents at times may have a perception things are worse than they are.

“The perception may be we want there to be no violence, and that would be a great thing, but every day we’ve got to work towards that," Salaam said.

Investigators have not offered any motive for the shooting thus far.