By Patrick Donachie
A priest was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting during an incident in the early Sunday morning in Jamaica, according to the NYPD. The pastor was hit in the arm but was otherwise unhurt.
The 49-year-old priest has been identified as Father Damien Ekete by the New York Post, and is a parochial vicar for the Church of the Holy Spirit in Morris Heights in the Bronx. According to police, at about 12:08 a.m., Ekete was standing near the intersection of 134th Street and Rockaway Boulevard. Police said that an unknown individual inside a passing vehicle fired in the direction of Ekete, hitting him in his right arm.
He was treated at Jamaica Hospital and in stable condition while there, according to the police,
According to the NYPD, another individual was the intended target, and Ekete was shot in the melee.
There was no answer at the Church of the Holy Cross when called for comment, and the Archdiocese did not return requests for comment by press time.
The NYPD also released a photo of the vehicle from which the suspect fired, and they asked anyone with information about the incident to call 1 (800)-577-TIPS.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
