A Violent Night in Brooklyn: What Went Wrong?

Early Sunday morning, a peaceful night turned into chaos in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

A shooting at the Taste of the City lounge left three people dead and nine others injured. This wasn't just any shooting; it was a mass casualty event that shook the community.

The Incident

The trouble started just before 3:30 a.m. inside the lounge on Franklin Avenue. A dispute among patrons quickly escalated into gunfire. Witnesses reported multiple shooters, and investigators found shell casings from at least two different types of guns. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 61, showing that no one was safe that night.

• One young man, just 19 years old, died at the scene.
• Two other men, aged 27 and 35, were rushed to the hospital but didn't survive their injuries.
• The other nine victims are recovering from non-life-threatening wounds.

Police are still looking for the shooters and have not made any arrests yet.

A History of Violence

This isn't the first time violence has erupted at this lounge. There was another shooting there in November 2024, though no one was killed. The police are treating this latest incident as gang-related, which is unfortunately common in New York City. Up to 60% of shootings in the city are tied to gang activity.

Community Response

Mayor Eric Adams called the shooting a "scar on the community" and promised to crack down on illegal guns. He urged anyone with information to come forward.

Pastor Gilford Monrose offered prayers for the victims and their families, highlighting the emotional toll of such violence.