Police Looking For Tips After 20-Year-Old Woman Shot In the Head

MOUNT VERNON, NY — A 20-year-old woman is fighting for her life after being shot in the head following a party in Mount Vernon, police said.

In the early morning Saturday, the woman was shot in the vicinity of South 3rd Avenue and East 4th Street in the city, according to Mount Vernon Police. Investigators are asking for the public's help identifying potential suspects.

Officials said a 'Mount Vernon PD' app and a dedicated tips line for text messages will allow those with information about the shooting to provide tips. They will let potential witnesses communicate with investigators anonymously, according to police.

The wounded woman has been identified as Mount Vernon resident Aliyah Waiters.

"Our offices will continue to work with the mayor and other elected officials to end incidents of gun violence in Mount Vernon," more than a dozen elected officials, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard wrote in a joint released over the weekend. "Every life is sacred and It is going to take all of us to get this done. Every elected official, every member of the clergy, every educator, community member, health care provider and resident must work together to stop the violence in Mount Vernon and beyond. There is so much good work already happening in Mount Vernon, and that needs to be recognized, uplifted and multiplied."

The letter vowing to work towards an end to the rash of gun and gang violence in Westchester County was also signed by Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York State Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Mount Vernon City Council President Marcus Griffith, Mount Vernon City Councilman Derrick Thompson and Mount Vernon City Councilwoman Janice Duarte. Darren Morton, Senior Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church and New York State Senators Jamaal Bailey and Alessandra Biaggi also added their voices to the call from federal, state and local elected officials and civic leaders.

Anyone with information related to this shooting is asked to call 914-665-2510.

Those concerned about anonymity can contact police by using the TIP411 service by texting the number ‘847411’ (TIP411), starting the message with the letters MVPD, followed by the tip.

Those who use an app instead can download the Mount Vernon PD app by searching for the app in the Apple App Store or Google App Store.

Use of the text service and app are both anonymous and allow two-way communication, police officials said.