NYC teacher grazed by bullet fired through school window

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City teacher was struck in the hand by a ricochet bullet Wednesday as he prepared his classroom for the start of school, police said.

The 33-year-old teacher was in his sixth-floor classroom at a Bronx middle school shortly before noon when a bullet flew through a window and grazed his right hand, police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and released.

Since New York City public schools begin classes on Thursday, there were no students in the building.

Police said a single bullet was found in the classroom. The unknown gunman is believed to have fired from an elevated location, possibly a roof, but is not believed to have aimed at the school, said Keiyon Ramsey, deputy police chief in the Bronx.

“This egregious display of force is both shocking and reprehensible,” a spokesperson for the city's Department of Education said in a statement. “The NYPD was immediately on the scene, where a teacher sustained non-life-threatening injuries. We will be providing additional support to this school community.”