FLATBUSH — A teenage boy was the unintended victim of a shooting in front of a pizza shop on Monday, police said.
A 24-year-old man who police believe was the intended target was also shot, but was able to walk to the hospital, police said.
The unidentified 13-year-old from Canarsie was shot in the head in front of Avenue Pizza II at 1066 Flatbush Ave. near Beverly Road at about noon, according to the NYPD.
The boy, who was waiting for the B41 with his aunt and her son, was struck twice above the right eye, according to police and Rufino Salazar, a pizza shop employee.
The lunchtime shooting set off a panic among the Avenue Pizza customers, who stampeded into the kitchen for shelter, Salazar said.
The teen victim's younger cousin and aunt were in tears over the shooting.
"He's going to die. He's going to die. My [cousin]'s going to die," Salazar quoted the cousin saying.
The pizza shop employee said he pressed a cloth to the boy's head to stanch the flow of blood as the teen reassured his family that the wound was not fatal.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," the boy told his aunt, according to Salazar.
The boy was conscious and alert when he was taken to Kings County Hospital, police and fire officials said.
Monday afternoon, detectives were looking for a male suspect who they said was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and jeans.
Editor's Note: Initial reports incorrectly said the left side of 13-year-old's head was shot. It was the right, relatives said. The reports also incorrectly said he had been with his mother and younger brother. He was with his aunt and her son, relatives said.
