A little girl walking beside her mom suddenly found herself in the middle of a street war she had nothing to do with.

Now, terrifying footage from the Bronx is forcing New Yorkers to ask how gangs became bold enough to spray bullets in the middle of the day while kids stood feet away.

Police say the shooting happened Wednesday along Southern Avenue in the Longwood section of the Bronx.

NYPD footage shows a large group running down the sidewalk as at least two young men fired guns behind them while fleeing. One shooter in a dark hoodie pointed his gun backward without even looking where he was aiming.

Another suspect, wearing a bandana and sagging pants, briefly turned and fired shots over the heads of people running nearby.

Sources told reporters the gunfight was between rival gangs.

The 5-year-old girl was walking with her 42-year-old mother when a stray bullet grazed her. Police said the shooters appeared to be very close to them when the gunfire started.

The child survived, but the footage shows how close this came to becoming far worse.

What the money/evidence shows

• NYPD released surveillance footage of at least two armed suspects
• Shooting happened on Southern Avenue in Longwood, Bronx
• Police say two rival gangs were involved
• A 5-year-old girl was hit by a stray bullet
• The shooting happened in broad daylight on a public sidewalk

THE BIGGER QUESTION

This story is not just about one shootout.

It is about how normal people — kids, parents, workers — are now getting trapped in fights that used to stay hidden in side streets or late-night corners.

The footage is shocking because the shooters do not seem worried about who is nearby. They fire while running. They barely look where they aim. One gunman shoots backward over his own friends.

That raises a hard question: do these crews no longer fear the law, or do they simply not care who gets hurt anymore?

THE OTHER SIDE

As of now, police have not announced arrests or released public statements from the suspects or lawyers tied to the case.

Gang cases can be messy. Footage does not always show who fired first or what led to the fight. But the video appears strong in showing reckless gunfire near civilians, including children.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Police are asking the public to help identify the shooters shown in the surveillance images.

For families in the Bronx, this case adds to growing fear about random people getting hit during gang violence. Parents walking kids to school or stores are now wondering if simply being outside can turn deadly in seconds.

The case will also put more pressure on city leaders to explain what is being done to stop repeat gang violence in busy neighborhoods.

What we still don’t know

• What started the gunfight between the two groups?
• How many total shooters were involved?
• Will police link the suspects to other gang shootings in the area?