One of the survivors of this past weekend’s shooting in Times Square is a Passaic County resident.
Marcela Aldana says that she is happy to be alive and happy that she was able to celebrate Mother’s Day with her three children on Sunday. She was one of three people – including a young girl – who was injured when two brothers got into an argument in Times Square and gunfire was exchanged.
Aldana was shot in the foot, which is now covered in a bandage. The shoe that she was wearing that day has a bullet hole in it.
“When I see it, I’m reminded that I survived something that could’ve been much worse,” Aldana says through a translator.
Aldana says that after she was shot, she couldn’t walk or even speak because of the pain she felt.
“I felt that when I heard more shots, that they were going to shoot me more,” she says
Aldana was in Times Square on Saturday with her 16-year-old daughter picking up Mother’s Day gifts. She says that she heard fighting and then gunshots behind her.
Police say that the alleged shooter is 31-year-old Farrakhan Muhammad. They say that Muhammad was trying to shoot his brother, but ended up shooting Aldana, along with another mother and her 2-year-old daughter instead. Aldana says that that mother and daughter were in a worse condition than she was.
“I hope to God that she recovers fast and that she can return to a normal life,” Aldana says.
Aldana immigrated to the United States from Mexico. She says that she is still grateful to be living in the U.S. and for the opportunities it has given to her. But she says that she is still in shock.
“I’m scared to return and the man – I don’t know. I’m scared he’s out there in the streets with a weapon and put a lot of people in danger,” she says.
The NYPD says that Muhammad is still on the loose. Anyone who may have information about his whereabouts should contact the police.
Aldana has an appointment on Thursday to get the bullet removed from her foot. She says that she is still not sure how long her recovery will take.