One dead, three hurt in subway shooting

A dispute between groups of teenagers on a New York City subway train spiralled into a spray of bullets today, leaving one man dead and three others in hospital, police said.

A single gunman shot the four – in front of other passengers – between stops on a northbound No. 5 train in the Bronx shortly after 2.30am, police said.

One victim died at the scene; the three survivors were in stable condition at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Centre, police said.

A 19-year-old was treated for a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and an 18-year-old shot in forearm was also treated at the medical centre. Both were released to Jacobi Medical Centre, said hospital spokesman Fred Yaeger.

Another 18-year-old shot in the finger was treated and released to officials for questioning.

The gunman apparently slipped off the train at a stop following the shootings. Police have not made any arrests.

The victims’ relatives gathered around the shuttered subway station today, hugging tearfully and imploring the public via television to give police any possible leads in the case. They said the victims were coming back from a picnic when they tangled with the gunman and his friends.

“They started fighting at the party, and whoever was up there, they followed them to this train station,” said Tornette Story, the mother of one of the victims.

There was no comment from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.