November 3, 2026 THE BRONX, NY A chaotic afternoon in the Bronx descended into absolute terror on Monday when a repeat violent offender pointed a pistol at terrified deli customers, shattered storefront glass, and traded gunfire with NYPD officers in broad daylight.

The wild shootout ended when quick-acting officers shot the gunman twice in the leg, halting his reckless rampage through a neighborhood packed with afternoon pedestrians.

Terror Inside the Deli: Pistol Racked at Customers

The incident began just before 3:30 p.m. at Bainbridge Avenue and East 194th Street in the Bronx.

According to NYPD Assistant Chief Aneudy Castillo, officers from the 52nd Precinct were dispatched following urgent reports of a man harassing individuals inside a local deli. The confrontation rapidly escalated from a verbal dispute into a life-or-death situation.

• The Escalation: The 49-year-old suspect drew a handgun, racked the slide back, and pointed the weapon directly at people inside the store.

• Panicked Response: Deli customers scrambled and ducked for cover to escape potential gunfire.

• Vandalism: The suspect exited the establishment and smashed the deli’s glass window using the heavy pistol.

Firefight on the Streets: Patrol Officers Under Attack

Just as the suspect was smashing the storefront, two uniformed officers in a marked NYPD vehicle pulled up to the scene.

“At this point, two uniformed officers in a marked NYPD vehicle arrive on scene, observe the subject’s actions, and immediately issue verbal commands for the subject to drop the weapon,” Assistant Chief Castillo reported. “The subject not only disregarded the order to drop the weapon, but instead pointed the firearms directly at the officers. At this point, there is an exchange of gunfire between the officers and the subject.”

Desperate to escape, the gunman ran northbound while blindly firing shots back toward the pursuing officers—endangering bystanders going about their afternoon routine.

Rampage Ended: Repeat Offender Identified

Officers returned fire with precision, striking the suspect twice in the leg and immediately ending the deadly gunfight.

• Medical Transport: The gunman was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he is expected to survive his injuries.

• Officer Safety: No NYPD officers were hit by gunfire, though they were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

• Evidence Recovered: Police recovered the suspect's pistol at the scene of the shooting.

Authorities have identified the gunman as Victor Soto, a 49-year-old with a long criminal history. According to Assistant Chief Castillo, Soto has eight prior arrests, including multiple charges for assault and criminal possession of a firearm.

Multiple serious charges against Soto remain pending as NYPD detectives continue their investigation.

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