A July Fourth shooting near New York's Coney Island boardwalk wounded eight people, including four children, after a masked gunman fired into a family cookout, police officials said.

The shooting happened at about 10:37 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in a courtyard near West 30th Street and Surf Avenue, less than two blocks from the boardwalk, according to reporting from ABC News and the Associated Press. Police said the injured children are 6, 7, 12 and 14 years old.

A 21-year-old woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in the chest, while the seven other victims were described as stable or expected to survive. The other injured adults include two men and a 25-year-old woman.

What police know

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Sunday that detectives were searching for an unknown male suspect who was dressed in black, wearing a black ski mask and fled on foot after firing into the courtyard. Police have not announced an arrest.

Officials said they had found no indication of an argument or disturbance at the cookout before the shooting. Tisch also said investigators recovered a TEC-9-style firearm with an extended magazine and 10 discharged shell casings at the scene, according to ABC News.

Detectives are examining whether the shooting is connected to a gang-related homicide reported earlier in the week on the same block, but officials had not confirmed a motive as of Sunday afternoon. That distinction matters: police are looking at a possible link, not declaring one as fact.

What remains uncertain

The immediate public-safety question is whether police identify and arrest the shooter. The broader question is why a family holiday gathering became a target and whether others were involved. Until investigators release more, the known facts are limited to the victims, the location, the recovered weapon and the ongoing search.

The shooting added a grim note to a crowded holiday weekend in Coney Island, where families had gathered near the beach, boardwalk and fireworks. For residents, the practical next step is to rely on official police updates and avoid circulating unverified names, photos or motive claims while the investigation remains active.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and police officials condemned the attack Sunday, while emphasizing that gun violence citywide has fallen compared with the first half of 2025. That context does not reduce the gravity of this case: four children and four adults were wounded at a holiday cookout, and one victim remained critically hurt.