Teen Shot at Mexican Parade in Manhattan

A man, identified as Joel Nieves, 35, who has a history of crime, shot a teenage girl near a Mexican Day parade in Manhattan.

When police showed him surveillance footage from the incident, which took place Sunday evening at 27th Avenue and Park Avenue, he readily admitted his involvement. “It’s me in a Yankees jersey and camouflage pants. I had a gun and fired it twice,” he reportedly told authorities.

Investigators noted that Nieves has had a firearm before, using it against rival gang members, as mentioned by Manhattan assistant district attorney Stephanie Ritter during his court appearance.

The motive behind the shooting remains uncertain.

The victim, a teenage girl, is now battling a lung collapse from the shooting and is hospitalized at Bellevue. Her mother, visibly shaken, chose not to comment following the incident.

Nieves, originally from the Bronx, has been arrested at least ten times and is facing serious charges including attempted murder, assault, and weapon offenses. A judge in Manhattan granted the prosecution’s request for a $250,000 cash bail.

Authorities believe he might face further charges as there are suspicions linking him to the stabbing of a 24-year-old man, which happened shortly before the shooting.

Footage reviewed by prosecutors allegedly shows Nieves in a compromising situation with female victims amidst a group of males.

Additionally, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with gang-related assault for his involvement in the altercation that led to the stabbings.

Investigators are connecting both the shooting and the stabbings to gang activity, although specific details about Nieves’ gang affiliations have not been disclosed.

Nieves’ attorney attempted to minimize his client’s past, mentioning that only one conviction dated back to 2013. However, records show he had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in 2014 and currently has two active warrants relating to separate cases in Brooklyn and Queens.

The previous robbery incident involved Nieves and another individual taking a woman’s cell phone and wallet, which led to a six-month prison sentence followed by five years of probation.

In addition to these offenses, Nieves has faced multiple arrests for fare evasion, marijuana possession, and more.

He is scheduled to return to court on September 26th.