By Joe Anuta
A reputed Far Rockaway gang member was charged with firing off a bullet that wounded a 10-year-old girl early Saturday morning, authorities said.
Lenard Crudup, 21, was slapped with charges including assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child, according to District Attorney Richard Brown, who said Crudup faces up to 25 years behind bars if convicted.
“Being outside on a warm summer night turned into a frightening experience for a young Far Rockaway girl when she was hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by the defendant,” Brown said in a statement. “Physically, she will make a full recovery, but the defendant’s alleged reckless actions will cause her to carry the traumatic and emotional scars of that night for the rest of her life.”
Brianna Palmer was standing in a courtyard at Dix McBride Apartments on Dix Avenue near Beach Channel Drive at about 1:20 a.m. when Crudup squeezed off a few rounds from the street.
The youngster was struck above the hip and rushed to a nearby medical facility, the DA said.
“The little girl started screaming at the top of her lungs, the family came out and the guys took off,” one neighbor told TimesLedger Newspapers.
Random violence is par for the course in the neighborhood, said frustrated residents, who blame outsiders for stirring up trouble and alarming parents who have to worry about children playing outside.
“They bring their drama here and our kids have to suffer the consequences,” said resident Nicole Watson. “This is a bad neighborhood.”
Watson and others living in the complex said the police have not been doing enough to stem the violence.
One man who has several children said last year another innocent bystander was caught in a crossfire and took a bullet to the face.
“It’s the unwanted characters who are out here every day,” he said. “It is hard, because it’s never going to stop. This happens at least two or three times every summer.”
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
