New York Mass Shooting:  A night of celebration turned into tragedy in Brooklyn early Sunday morning when multiple gunmen opened fire inside a hookah lounge and restaurant, killing three people and wounding eight others. The shooting happened just before 3:30 am at Taste of the City Lounge, located at 903 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers rushed to the scene after receiving several emergency calls and found a chaotic scene with victims scattered inside the establishment.

In total, 11 people were shot, including eight men and three women, ranging in age from 27 to 61. Three men, ages 27, 35, and another whose age has not yet been confirmed, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The remaining eight victims were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. “It’s a terrible thing that happened this morning, and we’re going to investigate to determine what went down,” Commissioner Tisch told reporters at a press briefing. Investigators believe there were multiple shooters involved, but no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning.

According to ABC 7, detectives believe the gunfire erupted following a dispute inside the lounge. Police recovered at least 36 shell casings from the scene and also found a firearm near Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway.

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NYPD Chief Calls Brooklyn Shooting

Tisch emphasised that despite this incident, shootings in New York City remain at historic lows. “We have the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims seven months into the year that we’ve seen on record in the city of New York,” she said. “Something like this is, of course, thank God, an anomaly, and it’s a terrible thing that happened this morning. But we’re going to investigate and get to the bottom of what went down.”

The sudden burst of violence has left the Crown Heights neighborhood rattled. Residents described being awakened by the sound of gunfire and sirens, while others said the area had recently become a popular nightlife spot.

 

Police have not yet released details about the suspects or what led to the confrontation that ended in bloodshed. Investigators are continuing to review surveillance footage and interview witnesses in hopes of tracking down those responsible.