A house party in Queens turned violent Friday night after a shooting that involved the police.
NYPD officials say 75-100 people were at the house party located near 219th Street and 130th Avenue.
Surveillance video shows crowds of attendees outside of the home where the party was taking place. Moments later, gunshots could be heard outside of the party.
“I said, 'what’s going on?' And I was informed that they had gunshots,” said neighbor Donna Ruiz. “And then all of a sudden, everybody was flying in different directions trying to get to safety.”
Ruiz said the scene was chaotic.
“A lot of commotion going on,” Ruiz said. “Police was flying down the block. Sirens like crazy.”
Police said detectives dressed in plain clothes and driving an unmarked car were patrolling the area because they suspected violence could break out between what they described as “local street crews.”
Just after 11:30 p.m., detectives saw a group of men pull up across the street from the detectives' car, pull out three guns and fire into the area of the party. The detectives fired at the suspects before a shootout ensued.
“I’m imploring members of our community that it’s so important to work together with your police so we can put an end to this gun violence,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol Jeffrey B. Maddrey.
Police said four male suspects sustained gunshot wounds and were taken into custody before they were transported to various hospitals. A 17-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 16-year-old suffered non-life threatening injuries. An 18-year-old male suspect remains in critical but stable condition.
“We have a revolving door – insane criminal justice system,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “The police are one part of it. We need our judges, prosecutors and lawmakers to participate in keeping us safe.”
Adams blamed the rise in gun violence across the city, in part, on repeat offenders. But neighbors like Ruiz said her neighborhood of nearly 30 years is normally peaceful.
“Never have I heard anything like that go on,” Ruiz said.
Neighbors believe the police presence in the neighborhood before the shooting made all the difference.
“It could have got worse if they didn’t respond so fast,” Ruiz said. “I never seen police come so fast.”