By Rebecca Henely
An Ozone Park teenager has been arrested in the shooting of the wife of a Sudanese diplomat in Astoria near Long Island City High School, police said.
Miguel Mata, 19, of 90th Street and Sutter Avenue, was taken into custody Friday and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment, police said.
The Sudanese woman was shot in the arm April 17 on 31st Drive near 21st Street while standing on the street with her two children, police said.
The New York Post identified the woman as Mawagad Elbahi, 31, the wife of Consul General Mohamed Elbahi. Mawagad Elbahi had been waiting for her 5-year-old son to be dropped off from school at a bus stop and was struck by a stray bullet fired during a dispute between two youths about three blocks away, the Post reported.
Her 3-year-old daughter and infant son were with her at the time, the Post reported.
Mawagad Elbahi was taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center, at 79-01 Broadway, where she was listed in stable condition, police said.
Her children were unharmed in the attack, police said.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), whose district covers Astoria, said the shooting underscored the need for more officers in the 114th Precinct, which patrols the community.
“We can’t wait any longer for more cops on our streets,” Vallone said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
