A Centimeter From Death, Bronx Woman Survives Execution Attempt

In a city that rarely blinks, one Bronx woman's morning walk home turned into a chilling brush with death — all because she turned her head. The 32-year-old, whose name has not been released publicly, was nearly executed in broad daylight by a stranger.

The Attempted Shooting on West 183rd Street

On the morning of May 9, 2025, the woman was walking past a pharmacy on West 183rd Street near Davidson Avenue in the University Heights section of the Bronx. She had just finished her shift and was heading home — a typical routine that turned terrifying in an instant.

According to the New York Police Department, an unidentified man dressed in all black approached her from behind, raised a handgun, and pulled the trigger without uttering a word.

The woman, by pure chance, turned her head at that moment. The bullet — intended for the back of her skull — missed by about a centimeter.

"I was walking home from work, and somebody ran up behind me and tried to shoot me in my head," the woman later recounted to amNY.com, speaking on condition of anonymity due to fears for her safety.

Surviving the Unthinkable

Though the bullet didn't strike her, the physical trauma didn't end there. As the gun went off, the woman fell, hitting her head on the pavement. Emergency responders transported her to St. Barnabas Hospital, where she was treated for a head injury.

Authorities confirmed the suspect did not know the victim and that the act appears to have been entirely random — which only amplifies the fear she now lives with. "It's terrifying, very much so," she told amNY.com. "I've been trying to deal with it — kind of hard to deal with it, you know? I am kind of angry about it."

What the Surveillance Footage Shows

Footage captured from the scene shows the hooded man crossing the street, jogging up behind the woman, and firing the weapon. After missing, he calmly tucks the gun away and continues walking, according to reports by Suggest.com.

Some sources also indicate that the suspect may have pistol-whipped the victim after the failed shooting attempt, though this detail remains under review.

The suspect is described as having a dark complexion, standing approximately 6 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds. Police have released surveillance photos in hopes that someone will recognize him.

The Investigation Continues

Police are treating the case as an attempted murder. As of publication, no arrests have been made, and the suspect remains at large.

For now, the woman is back home — alive, but far from unshaken. The randomness of the attack has left her rattled. She has no known enemies and no idea why someone would want her dead. According to Suggest, she did not recognize the suspect when shown a photo.

A City Watches and Waits

This incident has sparked concern across the Bronx community, not just for the woman involved but for anyone who's ever walked a familiar route and assumed safety. While shootings are sadly not uncommon in parts of the city, the deliberate, silent nature of this attempt — carried out in broad daylight — is particularly jarring.

Anyone can become a target. And sometimes, survival comes down to the smallest of movements — like turning your head at the right time.

References: NYC woman, 32, lucky to be alive after stranger tries to shoot her from behind, missing her by 'a centimeter' | Brush with death: Bronx woman left traumatized after stranger tried to shoot her in the head on street | Woman Survives Near-Miss Shooting With Bullet Whizzing Centimeters From Her