Brooklyn lounge shooting leaves 3 dead

A mass shooting at a Crown Heights lounge left three dead and nine wounded, with investigators flagging a gang-related motive and ongoing pressure on city leaders.

Brooklyn lounge shooting tests city resolve

Three people are dead and nine others were wounded after a shooting early Sunday inside the Taste of the City lounge at 903 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The victims range in age from 19 to 61 and include nine men and three women. Police say the attack involved up to four shooters and produced 42 shell casings from 9 mm and 45 caliber guns. No arrests have been announced, and investigators recovered a firearm near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway, though officials have not tied it to the assault. The venue had a prior non fatal shooting in November 2024.

Mayor Eric Adams said the city will mobilize a mass shooting plan and push to remove illegal guns. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that the shooting preliminarily appears to be gang related and that up to 60 percent of New York City shootings involve gangs. The investigation is ongoing and residents are urged to provide tips. The episode has renewed scrutiny of nightlife safety and the risks facing late night crowds.

Across New York City this incident mirrors a broader pattern of late night violence tied to disputes, crowded venues and easy access to firearms. The use of multiple shooters and a high number of shell casings suggest a coordinated assault, not a spontaneous brawl. If investigators confirm gang involvement, it would align with Tisch’s statistic and shape how agencies allocate resources and how communities perceive safety.

Public safety depends on public cooperation. Tips from witnesses can unlock investigations, but protecting informants is essential. The city should couple enforcement with prevention, investing in community programs and preventing illegal guns from reaching streets. Past violence around the same club highlights the need for targeted oversight of nightlife venues and sustained outreach to at risk neighborhoods.

Highlights

The path to safer streets requires action beyond words.