Authorities in New York City were stunned on August 17, 2025, when four gunmen brazenly opened fire in a Brooklyn hookah lounge. The incident resulted in three fatalities and left nine others seriously wounded. Now, police are seeking out any information about the incident and the alleged culprits.
Authorities were first made aware of the incident when they received a frantic 911 call around 3:30 A.M. The caller told the 911 responder about the shooting, and police rushed out to the Taste of the City Lounge. Once they arrived, authorities discovered approximately a dozen injured individuals. Emergency responders declared one 19-year-old deceased at the scene. Everyone else was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. A short time later, two other victims, one 27-year-old male and one 35-year-old man, were declared deceased.
Once they spoke with witnesses, detectives confirmed that the hookah club was packed when the gunmen opened fire. The deceased 19-year-old apparently got into a verbal dispute with the deceased 35-year-old.
Witnesses told police that the 35-year-old is a suspected member of the Folks Nations gang. During the altercation, both individuals pulled out their weapons and began shooting at each other. Two other unidentified men also took out their guns and started shooting, too. Patrons immediately panicked and fled, many of them getting struck by bullets on the way out.
Over 42 shell casings were collected at the scene, including multiple bullets from a .9mm and some from a .45 caliber weapon. The deceased 27 year old appears to have been an innocent bystander who was simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many other innocent victims were shot. The oldest injured victim was 61 years old.
Authorities later said in a press conference that they believe the shooting was gang-related. They also said they recovered at least one ditched weapon near the scene that they believe was used in the attack.
Discharging a Firearm in New York: What to Expect if You’re Charged
If you get charged with discharging a firearm in New York, then you could face serious penalties. Being involved in a shooting, even if it doesn’t result in injuries or property damage, is still considered a class a misdemeanor. This type of crime could result in a sentence of up to a year in jail. When that shooting endangers someone else, it’s immediately upgraded to a class D felony. This could result in a prison sentence of up to seven years.
If someone actually is injured or killed in the shooting, then you could face very serious repercussions. Both assault with a deadly weapon and manslaughter are considered felony charges.
It’s also important to note that any crime that’s committed in New York with the added element of being gang-related is automatically treated more seriously. Being gang affiliated is considered an aggravating factor, which could impact potential bail and your ultimate sentence.
To get started on constructing a solid defense strategy in your legal situation, contact our team of New York criminal defense attorneys now by leaving your contact details on our online form.
