Man and 12-Year-Old Boy Shot in Crown Heights Store

A man and a 12-year-old boy were shot inside a sneaker store on Utica Ave. and Union St. in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn last night.

According to police, two people started arguing in the Rugged Sole store when one of them pulled out a gun and fired shots.

The boy and the man were bystanders and hit in the gunfire.

The 34-year-old man is in serious condition after being shot in the upper body, police said. The boy was shot in the leg and is in stable condition.

Both were taken to Kings County Hospital. Police are still looking for the alleged gunman, believed to be 21 years old.

Hussain Mahdi, who owns a beauty supply store across the street, said a customer came running in after the shooting because she “was so scared.”

Mahdi said shootings weren’t uncommon in the area.

“It’s bad,” he said. “It happened all the time, the shooting and a lot of things. I’ve been in the business a long time, but this is the worst area I’ve ever seen.”

The area of Eastern Parkway and Utica Ave. is notorious for shootings, with two happening within the period of a month in late 2010.