Police identify 20-year-old shooting victim in Mount Vernon

Officials confirm the victim is 20-year-old Aliyah Waiters, a resident of the community.

News 12 Staff

Sep 27, 2021, 11:41 AM

Updated 1,189 days ago

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Police have identified the woman who was shot in the head in Mount Vernon on Saturday morning.
Officials confirm the victim is 20-year-old Aliyah Waiters, a resident of the community.

Police say the shooting happened around 3 a.m. during an argument at a party near South 3rd Avenue and East 4th Street.  Waiters was rushed to New York Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in the Bronx where she is in critical condition.
So far, no arrests have been made. Police have not yet determined the motive of the shooting or said if the woman was the intended target
The community is outraged at the gun violence piercing through the city.
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said she heard the shots ring out Saturday morning.
"I literally live one block away from the scene. I was up reading and preparing for some work, and I heard the shots ring out," she said.  She said it sounded like it was more than 10 shots fired that morning.
The mayor added that in 2020, 80% of homicide cases were “closed” and that police in Mount Vernon are on track for the same clearance record this year.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman released a statement, saying that his offices will continue to work with the mayor and other elected officials to put an end to incidents of gun violence in Mount Vernon.
“Every life is sacred and it is going to take everyone to play their part to get this done," he said. 
Some Mount Vernon residents say they're tired of this violence, and Jesse Van Lew is heading a community action group called "Save Mount Vernon."  He is calling on Patterson-Howard and state authorities to work together on solutions to getting guns off the streets and wants policies like “stop and frisk” instituted. "Stop and frisk needs help.  Right now it’s all hands on deck. You want stop and frisk in Mount Vernon?  Bring it back, too many guys carrying guns," says Van Lew, of Mount Vernon.
Police are asking for the public's help in gathering any information available about the shooting. If you know anything, they are asking you to call 914-665-2510.