NEW YORK (AP) – A tragic shooting incident occurred in the Brooklyn borough of New York City early Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Two of the deceased, Jamel Childs, 35, and Marvin St. Louis, 19, were among the four shooters involved in the altercation at the Taste of the City Lounge in Crown Heights, according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The incident took place around 3:30 a.m.
Prior to the shooting, surveillance footage captured Childs and St. Louis arguing inside the lounge. Approximately ten minutes after the argument, St. Louis confronted Childs and began shooting, prompting Childs and two additional individuals to return fire. Both Childs and St. Louis sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The third victim, identified as 27-year-old Amadou Diallo, was found at the scene with fatal injuries. Authorities believe Diallo was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
In addition to those who lost their lives, the incident resulted in 14 other injuries. Fortunately, none of the injured individuals are reported to have life-threatening conditions, as stated by Mayor Eric Adams. Following the shooting, investigators recovered at least 42 shell casings from 9 mm and .45-caliber weaponry, as well as a firearm located on a nearby street. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with a focus on determining the motive, which authorities suspect to be gang-related.
As of Monday, Commissioner Tisch reported that two other men involved in the shooting remained at large, though further details about their identities have not been disclosed. This incident marks the second mass shooting in New York City within a matter of weeks, despite an overall decrease in gun violence in the city throughout the year. The previous incident occurred on July 29, when a man armed with a rifle entered an office tower in Manhattan, resulting in one injury and four fatalities. Among the victims of that shooting was Didarul Islam, a New York City police officer, whose wife delivered their third child late Sunday night.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue of gun violence in New York City and articulated the need for continued efforts to remove firearms from the streets. Both recent shootings underline the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing gun-related incidents in the city.
