Two men were shot during a robbery gone wrong at an illegal gambling spot in Queens, leaving one of them in critical condition, police said Friday.
The shooting happened Thursday night around 9:20 p.m. in the back of a building on Haight Street, near 41st Avenue in Flushing. Officers arrived to find a 37-year-old man who had been shot in the head. Emergency medical responders rushed him to NY-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, where he was fighting for his life on Friday.
Around the same time, another man, aged 42, showed up at the same hospital with a bullet wound to his cheek. Investigators later discovered that both men were inside the gambling den when a robber opened fire.
After the gunshots, the older man managed to run out of the gambling spot and get himself to the hospital. Meanwhile, three men described as Hispanic were seen fleeing the scene. They jumped into a white SUV with noticeable damage to its front end and sped off. As of Friday, no arrests had been made, and police were reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the shooters.
Police cordoned off much of the block on Friday, an area known for its vibrant, predominantly Asian community. Officers were seen going in and out of a nearby café decorated with anime posters on the front windows.
A local cabinet maker, who preferred not to share his name, spoke about the neighborhood’s reputation. “There are a few underground gambling places around here,” he said. “Stuff like this happens more often than people think. It’s just that this time, people got shot.”
Residents of Flushing acknowledged that illegal gambling dens were an open secret in the area but said violence at these places was uncommon. “It’s terrifying,” said one local worker about the double shooting.
The cabinet maker shared his growing concerns about safety. “When I saw the cops locking down the street, I told my coworker I’m planning to move out,” he said. “I even texted my landlord that I’ll probably move in two months. This street feels dangerous now. Things are crazy here.”