Local Politicians React To Yesterday’s Shooting & Will Hold Press Conference Tonight, Plus An Upcoming Anti-Gun Violence Event
Yesterday’s shooting in front of 1066 Flatbush Avenue was particularly rattling because of its occurrence in broad daylight near a heavily-populated intersection, which resulted in a 13-year-old suffering two head wounds. Now Councilmembers Mathieu Eugene and Jumaane Williams and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams are responding to the most recent example of gun violence in our area, two of them with a gathering tonight (Tuesday, April 15) where it took place.
“Senseless violence nearly claimed the life of another victim,” Councilmember Eugene said in a statement this morning. “A young boy, innocent of any crime, will carry the scars of another’s heinous act for the remainder of his life. [Yesterday] afternoon was a dark reminder of the tragic consequences that gun violence continues to have on our community.”
Councilmember Williams added:
“There are two young people lying in a hospital, suffering from gunshot wounds that could have very well ended their lives… Words cannot express the frustration of adding more names to a list of gun violence victims that, unfortunately, continues to grow by the day…
“[The shooter] not only injured his intended target, but he caused a young person to be shot in the head. His crime- walking down the street with his Aunt. Simply walking down the street shouldn’t mean a death sentence anywhere, for anyone, anywhere in this city.
“Mere words, which we repeat after every incident, aren’t enough. As co-chair of the New York City Council Task Force to Combat Gun Violence, I am committed to fighting for increased funding, so that violence interrupter groups, such as G.M.A.C.C., East Flatbush Village, Inc., Man Up, Inc., and LIFE Camp have the resources they need to reach our young people before incidents like this occur again. All agencies must commit to playing their part and working on this issue as a public health crisis.”
As of this morning, no arrests have been made–but at least seven shots are thought to have been fired in the incident, on a day when in addition to regular afternoon shoppers, public school students were out on spring recess and populating our local blocks.
You can read the NYPD’s description and see video footage of the suspect here, then see how Councilmember Eugene and Borough President Adams plan to curtail local gun violence at the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Beverley Road at 6pm tonight.
In addition, neighbors who agree with Councilmember William’s vision of reduced violence through programs and awareness can make reservations to attend (or simply donate to) We Are All Brooklyn‘s fundraiser Brooklyn Speaks: Communities Against Gun Violence on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30pm at The Cobra Club (6 Wyckoff Avenue between Troutman and Jefferson Streets in Bushwick).
Photo by Victorgrigas
