Crown Heights, Brooklyn — A tragic mass shooting at the Taste of the City lounge located at 903 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights left three dead and nine others wounded early Sunday morning, prompting Mayor Eric Adams to announce the activation of the city’s mass shooting response plan.
The incident occurred just before 3:30 a.m., when multiple 911 calls reported gunfire inside the crowded lounge. Police arrived at the scene within minutes and discovered numerous victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the police have identified 12 victims ranging from 19 to 61 years old, including nine men and three women. Of these, three males — ages 19, 27, and 35 — were pronounced dead, with one victim deceased at the scene and two succumbing to injuries at the hospital. The remaining nine victims are hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The identities of the victims have not been released pending family notifications.
Commissioner Tisch indicated the shooting involved multiple shooters, with up to four gunmen opening fire amid a dispute inside the lounge. Investigators recovered at least 42 shell casings from multiple firearms, including 9mm and .45 caliber weapons.
“Our crime scene investigators have now recovered 42 shell casings from multiple guns,” Tisch stated. “The shooting preliminarily appears to be gang-related, and up to 60% of shootings in New York City are gang-related,” she added.
The incident marks a jarring anomaly amid a year noted for historically low numbers of shooting incidents and victims in New York City. “We have the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims seven months into the year that we’ve seen on record,” Tisch said during a news conference at the scene.
Mayor Eric Adams addressed the media, expressing sorrow for the victims and their families and announcing the city’s immediate mobilization of a mass shooting plan to ensure a thorough investigation and prevention of future tragedies.
“We unfortunately will have to mobilize a mass shooting plan,” Adams said. “We will find those involved. Right now, our thoughts are with the families affected by this horrific act of gun violence.”
Investigators have been reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the neighborhood to identify and apprehend the suspects involved. No arrests have been made as of the latest updates.
Authorities also found a firearm near the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway, but it remains unclear whether it is connected to the lounge shooting.
The investigation remains active as law enforcement agencies pursue leads and evidence to bring justice for the victims and their families.
The mass shooting at Taste of the City, a local nightclub known to attract a diverse crowd, shocked the Crown Heights neighborhood and reignited conversations about gun violence and public safety in New York City.
Community members and city officials have expressed renewed calls for strengthening violence prevention measures and supporting law enforcement efforts in battling gang-related crimes.