A 54-year-old man was fatally shot in Bedford-Stuyvesant Wednesday afternoon. Police are searching for the suspect who fled the scene.

The incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. near the PO Reinaldo Salgado Playground on Monroe Street, off Patchen Avenue.

According to police, they received a 911 call for an assault in progress. Upon arrival, officers found the victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

This shooting marks the third such incident near Patchen Avenue since June 2.

According to NYPD data, the 81st Precinct, where the shooting took place, has experienced a 44% increase in gun violence since the beginning of the year. The precinct has recorded at least 14 shootings in 2024, including two on both June 2 and June 28 in the same area.

The suspect, who is described as wearing a ski mask and a white T-shirt, last seen running down Patchen Avenue. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.