CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — August 18, 2025
A late-night gathering at the Taste of the City Lounge turned into a nightmare early Sunday when gunfire erupted inside the crowded venue, resulting in three fatalities and injuring more than a dozen patrons.
Chaos at Closing Time
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday—August 17—a dispute ignited between two patrons at the hookah lounge located at 903 Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Surveillance footage captured the confrontation, which quickly escalated: one patron, 19-year-old Marvin St. Louis, approached and opened fire. Jamel Andre Childs, age 35—believed to be affiliated with the Folk Nation gang—returned fire along with two additional unidentified shooters.
Victims Caught in Crossfire
- Marvin St. Louis, 19, died at the scene.
- Jamel Andre Childs, 35, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
- Amadou Diallo, 27, was an innocent bystander caught in the melee and later died from his wounds.
Initial reports counted nine injured, but by Monday, officials confirmed that 14 individuals in total suffered gunshot wounds—some arriving at hospitals on their own after initially leaving the scene. All those hospitalized are expected to recover.
Investigation Underway
Crime scene teams recovered 42 shell casings from inside the lounge and the adjacent street, spanning 9 mm and .45‑caliber firearms. A firearm found nearby is under review to determine possible links to the shooting.
Joined by Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch—while calling the shooting “tragic” and “senseless”—characterized the incident as gang-related, noting that approximately 60% of shootings across the city have such ties. Childs was confirmed as a Folk Nation gang member, and three other victims share that affiliation. St. Louis, however, had no prior criminal record.
City Officials Respond
Mayor Adams announced the deployment of crisis management and violence-interruption teams to support the community, coordinate with hospitals, and help prevent retaliatory violence. He emphasized that while the city has enjoyed record-low gun violence in 2025, this shooting stands as a devastating exception.
Lee clergy leaders and organizations also mobilized to provide emotional and spiritual assistance, urging the community to reject violence and work toward healing.
Ongoing Manhunt
While two of the suspected shooters—St. Louis and Childs—were killed, two more remain at large. Authorities continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers.
A Community Reels
Witnesses described the chaos and terror inside as patrons fled in panic:
“I just heard a couple of gunshots. I laid on the floor … when I found a way to get out, I … got out because I was right there close to the door,” said one survivor.
Residents voiced deep concern over the escalating violence:
“I’m really scared… this kind of behavior I never saw in my life,” said Aaron Manuel, reflecting the unease that now shadows this previously quiet neighborhood.
Summary: Early Sunday morning, a dispute between two men at Crown Heights’ Taste of the City Lounge turned deadly. Three men were killed—two shooters and one bystander—and up to fourteen have been wounded. Two perpetrators remain at large as law enforcement and community leaders work to investigate, support victims, and prevent violence from spiraling further.
Gunfire Erupts at Crown Heights Nightclub: Three Dead, Over a Dozen Shot
CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — August 18, 2025
A late-night gathering at the Taste of the City Lounge turned into a nightmare early Sunday when gunfire erupted inside the crowded venue, resulting in three fatalities and injuring more than a dozen patrons.
Chaos at Closing Time
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday—August 17—a dispute ignited between two patrons at the hookah lounge located at 903 Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Surveillance footage captured the confrontation, which quickly escalated: one patron, 19-year-old Marvin St. Louis, approached and opened fire. Jamel Andre Childs, age 35—believed to be affiliated with the Folk Nation gang—returned fire along with two additional unidentified shooters.
Victims Caught in Crossfire
- Marvin St. Louis, 19, died at the scene.
- Jamel Andre Childs, 35, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
- Amadou Diallo, 27, was an innocent bystander caught in the melee and later died from his wounds.
Initial reports counted nine injured, but by Monday, officials confirmed that 14 individuals in total suffered gunshot wounds—some arriving at hospitals on their own after initially leaving the scene. All those hospitalized are expected to recover.
Investigation Underway
Crime scene teams recovered 42 shell casings from inside the lounge and the adjacent street, spanning 9 mm and .45‑caliber firearms. A firearm found nearby is under review to determine possible links to the shooting.
Joined by Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch—while calling the shooting “tragic” and “senseless”—characterized the incident as gang-related, noting that approximately 60% of shootings across the city have such ties. Childs was confirmed as a Folk Nation gang member, and three other victims share that affiliation. St. Louis, however, had no prior criminal record.
City Officials Respond
Mayor Adams announced the deployment of crisis management and violence-interruption teams to support the community, coordinate with hospitals, and help prevent retaliatory violence. He emphasized that while the city has enjoyed record-low gun violence in 2025, this shooting stands as a devastating exception.
Lee clergy leaders and organizations also mobilized to provide emotional and spiritual assistance, urging the community to reject violence and work toward healing.
Ongoing Manhunt
While two of the suspected shooters—St. Louis and Childs—were killed, two more remain at large. Authorities continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers.
A Community Reels
Witnesses described the chaos and terror inside as patrons fled in panic:
“I just heard a couple of gunshots. I laid on the floor … when I found a way to get out, I … got out because I was right there close to the door,” said one survivor.
Residents voiced deep concern over the escalating violence:
“I’m really scared… this kind of behavior I never saw in my life,” said Aaron Manuel, reflecting the unease that now shadows this previously quiet neighborhood.
Summary: Early Sunday morning, a dispute between two men at Crown Heights’ Taste of the City Lounge turned deadly. Three men were killed—two shooters and one bystander—and up to fourteen have been wounded. Two perpetrators remain at large as law enforcement and community leaders work to investigate, support victims, and prevent violence from spiraling further. Shot
CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — August 18, 2025
A late-night gathering at the Taste of the City Lounge turned into a nightmare early Sunday when gunfire erupted inside the crowded venue, resulting in three fatalities and injuring more than a dozen patrons.
Chaos at Closing Time
Shortly before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday—August 17—a dispute ignited between two patrons at the hookah lounge located at 903 Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Surveillance footage captured the confrontation, which quickly escalated: one patron, 19-year-old Marvin St. Louis, approached and opened fire. Jamel Andre Childs, age 35—believed to be affiliated with the Folk Nation gang—returned fire along with two additional unidentified shooters.
Victims Caught in Crossfire
- Marvin St. Louis, 19, died at the scene.
- Jamel Andre Childs, 35, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
- Amadou Diallo, 27, was an innocent bystander caught in the melee and later died from his wounds.
Initial reports counted nine injured, but by Monday, officials confirmed that 14 individuals in total suffered gunshot wounds—some arriving at hospitals on their own after initially leaving the scene. All those hospitalized are expected to recover.
Investigation Underway
Crime scene teams recovered 42 shell casings from inside the lounge and the adjacent street, spanning 9 mm and .45‑caliber firearms. A firearm found nearby is under review to determine possible links to the shooting.
Joined by Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch—while calling the shooting “tragic” and “senseless”—characterized the incident as gang-related, noting that approximately 60% of shootings across the city have such ties. Childs was confirmed as a Folk Nation gang member, and three other victims share that affiliation. St. Louis, however, had no prior criminal record.
City Officials Respond
Mayor Adams announced the deployment of crisis management and violence-interruption teams to support the community, coordinate with hospitals, and help prevent retaliatory violence. He emphasized that while the city has enjoyed record-low gun violence in 2025, this shooting stands as a devastating exception.
Lee clergy leaders and organizations also mobilized to provide emotional and spiritual assistance, urging the community to reject violence and work toward healing.
Ongoing Manhunt
While two of the suspected shooters—St. Louis and Childs—were killed, two more remain at large. Authorities continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers.
A Community Reels
Witnesses described the chaos and terror inside as patrons fled in panic:
“I just heard a couple of gunshots. I laid on the floor … when I found a way to get out, I … got out because I was right there close to the door,” said one survivor.
Residents voiced deep concern over the escalating violence:
“I’m really scared… this kind of behavior I never saw in my life,” said Aaron Manuel, reflecting the unease that now shadows this previously quiet neighborhood.
Summary: Early Sunday morning, a dispute between two men at Crown Heights’ Taste of the City Lounge turned deadly. Three men were killed—two shooters and one bystander—and up to fourteen have been wounded. Two perpetrators remain at large as law enforcement and community leaders work to investigate, support victims, and prevent violence from spiraling further.
