Teen Who Allegedly Shot 2 in Bryant Park Ice Rink Wanted Expensive Coat: Sources

A 20-year-old was shot in the arm and a 14-year-old boy took a bullet in the back

The 16-year-old Bronx teen accused of firing eight shots at a 20-year-old man at Bryant Park's ice rink over the weekend, wounding him and a 14-year-old bystander, allegedly opened fire because the older man wouldn't hand over his expensive jacket, law enforcement sources said.

The 20-year-old victim, identified as Javier Contreras, was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm and is expected to be OK. The younger boy, Adonis Mera, was a bystander who was ice skating at the time of the shooting, according to police and his family. He was shot in the back and his family fears he may be paralyzed below the waist.

Mera's family told NBC 4 New York outside Bellevue Hospital Monday night that all things considered, Adonis was "doing OK." 

The suspect, Corey Dunton, allegedly fired shots in the busy midtown park late Saturday after trying to take the 20-year-old man's $600 Marmot Mammoth parka, commonly called a "Biggie."

When the man, who Police Comissioner Ray Kelly said did not appear to know the suspect, wouldn't give up the jacket, the Bronx teen then allegedly left, returned with a gun half an hour later and started shooting.

Law enforcement sources say investigators tracked Dunton down after a tipster said he was posting about the shooting on Facebook. Police took him into custody Sunday after an hour-long standoff during which the suspect allegedly continued to post messages to his Facebook page. He allegedly posted, "Feds at my door I'm going out with a bang," among other comments.

Kelly said witnesses identified the teen as the shooter.

He is charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and assault. He's being tried as an adult. 

Dunton responded to reporters' questions with vulgarities after being processed at the Midtown South Precinct station Monday night. 

It's not the first time that shots have been fired over that type of jacket. On Jan. 6, 16-year-old Raphael Ward died after being shot in the chest on the Lower East Side during a fight with other teens over a similar coat, the Daily News reports. 

In 2010, 18-year-old Malik Jenkins was hit by two cars as three men were trying to steal his coat. The three assailants were indicted on murder charges in the 18-year-old's death, the Daily News said.

The jacket was discontinued in 2012, a sporting goods website told the News.

--Jonathan Dienst, Sheldon Dutes, Shimon Prokupecz and Gus Rosendale contributed reporting.

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