BK Teen Facing 25 Years In Prison For Shooting Of 5-Year-Old: DA

BROOKLYN, NY — An 18-year-old who opened fire in broad daylight on a Brooklyn sidewalk earlier this year is facing 25 years in prison for the shooting, which injured a 5-year-old girl, prosecutors announced.

Omar Gelin was arraigned Tuesday on attempted murder and attempted assault charges for the April 5 shooting, when he shot at least six times toward a man walking on the sidewalk near Dumont and Montauk Avenues around 5:45 p.m. that day, prosectors said.

The shots missed the man, but grazed a 5-year-old girl who had been playing with her siblings on the sidewalk in the head, officials said.

“This defendant allegedly opened fire multiple times in broad daylight without any concern for the lives he was putting in danger," District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "It is very fortunate that this young victim did not lose her life and that none of her siblings were hurt. We will never tolerate such reckless gun violence in Brooklyn that far too often jeopardizes the lives of innocent bystanders and will now work to bring this defendant to justice.”

Gelin was caught on surveillance video getting out of his Nissan Versa, taking a gun out of the trunk and firing at the unknown man, officials said. He then put the gun back in his trunk, got n the driver's seat and drove away, prosecutors said.

Moments later, the 5-year-old's mother noticed her daughter was bleeding from a cut to her head. The young girl was treated for a graze wound at Brookdale Hospital, prosectors said.

Gelin, who had been driving his father's car, fled to South Carolina after the shooting, officials said. NYPD officers found and arrested him weeks later.

Gelin was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment for the shooting, prosecutors said.

He was released on $100,000 bail and ordered to return to court in July. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count, according to prosecutors.