Police Identify Men Who Were Fatally Shot In Our Community This Week As Neighbors Adetunji Ajakaye And Harold Abodia

Police last night identified the two people who were killed in our neighborhood this week: Adetunji Ajakaye, a 25-year-old who lived on E. 18th Street, between Newkirk and Foster Avenues, was fatally shot while sitting in a car at Newkirk Avenue and E. 17th Street yesterday; and Harold Abodia, 22, who lived on Foster Avenue, by E. 3rd Street, died at Kings County Hospital after being shot in the head at 585 E. 21st Street, by Ditmas Avenue, on Monday.

No arrest has been made in either shooting, police told us this morning.

Their deaths are part of a series of recent violent crimes in our area, including two men who were shot on Coney Island Avenue Monday night, a 22-year-old neighbor who was fatally shot in the head on Crooke Avenue earlier this month, and a 33-year-old man who was shot in the head on Flatbush Avenue in June.

Adetunji’s death was the second fatal shooting at Newkirk and E. 17th Street in recent months; neighbor Raphael Kurton was fatally shot there at the end of May.

These violent incidents have prompted much discussion from community leaders and neighbors about what can be done to curb the crime in our area, from installing more police cameras to having more beat cops and offering increased job and education opportunities for troubled youth.

Our thoughts go out to the families and friends of Adetunji and Harold.