Three men were killed and nine others wounded when multiple gunmen opened fire inside a crowded Brooklyn nightclub early Sunday morning, August 17, 2025, in what police described as a gang-related mass shooting.
The shooting occurred at approximately 3:27 a.m. at the Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood. Officers arrived within minutes of receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire inside the packed establishment.
The three fatalities were identified as Marvin St. Louis, 19, of Brooklyn, who was pronounced dead at the scene; Amadou Diallo, 27, of Upper Manhattan; and Jamel Childs, 35, of Brooklyn. Both Diallo and Childs were critically wounded and died at the hospital after being transported for emergency treatment.
Nine other victims, ranging in age from 19 to 61, sustained gunshot wounds but were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The wounded included six men and three women who were taken to local area hospitals for treatment.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch indicated at a Sunday press conference that the violence stemmed from a dispute inside the crowded establishment that escalated into gunfire involving up to four shooters. Tisch confirmed that “the shooting preliminarily appears to be gang-related” but declined to provide additional details due to the ongoing investigation.
Crime scene investigators recovered 42 shell casings from inside the lounge, which came from both 9mm and .45-caliber weapons. A firearm was also recovered in the vicinity of Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway, though police are still investigating whether it was connected to the shooting incident.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as patrons scrambled to escape the gunfire. One witness told reporters she heard gunshots and immediately dropped to the floor before finding a way to exit near the front door. Video footage from inside the lounge showed people running for their lives as bullets flew through the establishment.
According to witness accounts, there had been an argument between two groups toward the back of the lounge earlier in the evening that appeared to have been resolved, but tensions flared up again later. Some patrons were injured while attempting to flee the violence.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern about potential retaliatory attacks following the shooting and announced that crisis management teams had been mobilized in the community. Adams noted that approximately 60% of shootings in New York City are gang-related and urged the public to come forward with any information about the incident.
The mayor acknowledged that while the city has removed more than 2,000 illegal guns from the streets and driven down crime statistics, such numbers provide little comfort to victims of gun violence. Adams emphasized the need for continued efforts to prevent the flow of illegal firearms into New York City.
The Taste of the City Lounge, which serves American and Caribbean cuisine along with hookah and DJ entertainment, had been the site of another shooting incident in November 2024. That previous incident resulted in non-fatal injuries to a 28-year-old victim.
Local residents expressed little surprise at the violence, with some describing ongoing problems at the establishment since its opening in 2022. Neighbors reported frequently hearing arguments and fights, particularly during summer months, with disturbances often spilling onto the street.
The lounge released a statement expressing devastation over the shooting and extending prayers to the injured and families of the deceased. Management emphasized that guest safety had always been their top priority and pledged full cooperation with law enforcement during the investigation.
Commissioner Tisch noted that despite this incident, New York City had recorded its lowest number of shooting incidents and victims for the first seven months of any year on record. She described the mass shooting as an anomaly while acknowledging its severity.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and police continue to examine security footage and interview witnesses to identify the gunmen. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
The shooting represents one of more than 270 mass shootings recorded in the United States in 2025, according to tracking data. This incident occurred just weeks after another mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan that left four people dead.
