17-Year-Old Fort Greene Resident Charged With Murder In Shooting Death

A 17-year-old resident of Ingersoll Houses was arrested on Friday, October 30 and charged with murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon — all in the second degree — in the shooting death of 16-year-old Armani Hankins last Monday, October 26 outside the Applebee’s at DeKalb and Flatbush Avenues. The incident also left an unidentified 18-year-old injured with a gunshot wound to the left ankle.

The arrest of Peters, of North Elliott Walk in Fort Greene, is the latest news to come out of months of gun violence in the area — violence which has killed and injured numerous people in seven shootings this year. It also reflects what local elected officials and community leaders say is a citywide problem not simply confined to a simple “inner city” designation.

According to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, organizations on the ground like ManUp and Save Our Streets “are being outpowered and outnumbered by those on the streets using violence” and need financial and resource support from both city and state government.

Also needed are youth employment and education opportunities, say residents and officials such as Councilmember Laurie Cumbo.

And, of course, getting illegal guns off the streets and combating gun culture. “Too often, men settle disputes by taking out a gun,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “We attend too many funerals. Enough is enough. But it’s also our responsibility. We’ve got to tell, to snitch. Manhood is defined by leadership, not by gun violence. And we also need to take these guns off our streets. Congress is hijacked by special [gun]interests.”