Narrative shifts dramatically in shooting of teen girls near NYC's Stonewall Inn

The 16-year-old girl who was shot in the head near Manhattan’s Stonewall Inn late Sunday appears to have been the initial shooter, not a bystander, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation

The 16-year-old girl who was shot in the head near Manhattan’s Stonewall Inn late Sunday appears to have been the initial shooter, not a bystander, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation.

Police on Monday laid out a timeline of events that led to two teens girls getting shot. A fight broke out between two groups of young people who, police believe, knew each other. That’s when the 16-year-old girl made her way through the crowd, pulled out a gun and allegedly shot at a boy, firing the 9-millimeter gun not far from his head.

Somehow, the boy was not struck by any bullets. Instead, one of the shots hit a bystander about 100 feet away, according to police. That victim was a 17-year-old girl from New Jersey who was in the city celebrating Pride events. She was shot in the thigh, police said, and was taken to the hospital where she was expected to recover.

NYPD officers shut down Washington Square Park following the NYC Pride March on July 29, 2025. Hours later, a shooting occurred outside the Stonewall Inn.Madison Swart / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty ImagesIt was not entirely clear why the teen girl fired at the boy, but she and other members of the group with her took off immediately after. As they were running away, another boy who was with her in the group turned and started firing.

One of those shots struck the 16-year-old initial shooter in the head, police said. She suffered critical injuries, and was taken to a nearby hospital, where a law enforcement source said she was in police custody. The source also said she was not expected to be able to communicate imminently.