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The incident occurred shortly before 6:45 p.m.. on Thursday, April 25, near the intersection of Lake and Morningside avenues, police said.
The woman, identified as Marilyn Cotto Montanez, an 11th-grader at Lincoln High School, was found by officers bleeding on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to her head.
Police said that Montanez died from her wound after being transferred to a local hospital for treatment.
Yonkers Police Det. Sgt. Dean Politopoulos said that the initial investigation determined that several people who were familiar with each other were involved in an altercation before the gun went off.
One group wound up allegedly chasing the other, with a suspect displaying a handgun, which went off, striking Montanez in the head, who was uninvolved, Politopoulos said. The suspect then fled the scene.
According to investigators, no arrests have been made, and the weapon used in the incident has not been recovered.
Politopoulos said that investigators “have been working throughout the night to identify and apprehend the perpetrator of this violent act. Officers are actively searching multiple locations, utilizing K9 Units, and executing search warrants in an effort to develop information and recover evidence.
"A person of interest has been identified, and detectives are continuing to enhance the investigation in order to effect an arrest.”
“Last night. we experienced a tragic event where a young person lost her life due to gun violence,” Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner said in a statement on Friday, April 26. "First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. The Yonkers Police is dedicating every available resource to apprehend the person responsible for this heinous act. We anticipate an arrest in the near future and will ensure he will be held accountable for his despicable actions.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin M. Quezada said that “the entire Yonkers learning community and in particular Marilyn’s school family are profoundly saddened by this heartbreaking loss. Our hearts and prayers are with her family as they struggle to understand this senseless act of violence. Let Marilyn be the phoenix to summons a call to action for the adults in our community; we cannot lose another child to gun violence. Our staff will support her family as needed throughout their grieving. School staff members remember Marilyn as a caring young woman with a bright future within her reach. Our District Crisis Intervention Team will provide support to students, faculty and staff who may be grieving Marilyn’s senseless incomprehensible death.”
The investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding the incident has been asked to contact police investigators at the Yonkers Police Department by calling (914) 377-7724.
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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