Suspect in Bronx Shooting That Almost Killed Two Children Had Already Been Booked for Attempted Murder

Police in New York have arrested a man in connection to the broad daylight shooting that saw two children narrowly escape with their lives.

Michael Lopez, 27, was taken into custody Friday after a week-long manhunt.

Charges are pending, but he will likely face multiple counts of attempted murder, assault, criminal use of a firearm and reckless endangerment.

CBS sources identified him as a member of the "Make it Happen Boyz" with five previous arrests on his rap sheet -- including one for attempted murder.

The parents of the children said 13-year-old Mia had been taking her five-year-old little brother Christian to the store to buy candy when they were caught up in the terrifying ordeal.

"My kids are traumatized, whenever they hear a noise outside they start shaking and get really nervous," their father told NBC New York.

The big sister meanwhile has come in for heaps of praise for her heroic actions.

"Her first instinct was to protect her little brother," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz said, per NY Daily News. "She wants to be a police officer. Get a load of that, she’s already proven to be a protector."

NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison added: "I'm not sure what it takes to get the key to the city, but I nominate her."

A pair of children in the Bronx had a miraculous escape after being caught in the crossfire of a broad daylight murder attempt.

NYPD released shocking footage of the incident, which occurred around 6:45 PM on Thursday on Sheridan Avenue, PIX11 reported.

The video shows people on the sidewalk scattering in fear, as a man in a red shirt runs for his life. But he careens straight into two children walking along the sidewalk, and all three tumble to the ground.

WARNING: Disturbing Footage

Within milliseconds, a man wearing a mask sprints up behind them, gun outstretched, and fires several shots at the tangle of bodies struggling on the ground. The man in the red shirt scrambles to get away, as the assailant circles around firing more shots.

The heroic 13-year-old girl can be seen clutching the five-year-old boy close to her chest, using her own body as cover as the shots ricochet all around her.

The assailant finally flees the scene on foot, leaving the target slumped on the ground.

Somehow, nobody was killed.

The 24-year-old victim was struck in the back and both legs, but survived. Neither of the children were hurt.

According to police, the children did not know the victim, and were simply walking down the street when they got caught up in it.

The victim was taken to hospital by private means, according to NYPD, and was reported to be in a stable condition.

Police said the suspect fled the scene on the back of a scooter being driven by someone else.

Detectives are now seeking both: they described the gunman as a male, wearing sunglasses and all-black clothing. The getaway driver they said wore a white baseball cap, a red long-sleeved shirt and dark-colored shorts.