Three men were killed and eight others wounded early Sunday in a shooting at Taste of the City Lounge, a Caribbean bar in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Police say the gunfire erupted just before 3:30 AM on Franklin Avenue.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters that officers found 11 victims inside the lounge, eight men and three women, who had been shot.
Three men, aged 27, 35, and one whose age was not released, were pronounced dead at the scene. The other eight victims, ranging from 19 to 61 years old, were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Investigators recovered at least 36 shell casings and a firearm near the bar, suggesting that multiple shooters were involved. Tisch said the shooting stemmed from “a dispute.” No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a terrible thing that happened this morning,” Tisch said. “But we’re going to investigate it and get to the bottom of what went down.”
At least 7 SHOT in Brooklyn — reports
BLOOD splatter, shattered glass inside hookah lounge
No word on condition of wounded yet pic.twitter.com/wY7DA9crs6
— RT (@RT_com) August 17, 2025
Bar Responds to Shooting
Taste of the City Lounge later posted a statement on Instagram expressing devastation over the incident. The bar said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses described chaos as patrons ran for cover. Marie Desir, 40, told The New York Times, “I was like, ‘Oh, God, I’m dying today.’ I ran out to save my life.” She added that she had left behind her phone and wallet and later returned, distraught, searching for a friend.
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Pierre Tutu, 50, said he heard “a lot” of shots. “People were flying all over the place trying to save their lives,” he told the newspaper.
Shooting Stands Out Amid Low Crime Rates
Police noted that the attack comes during a year of record-low gun violence across New York City. July recorded only 75 shootings, the lowest number for that month since records began.
“Something like this is, of course, thank God, an anomaly,” Tisch said.
Still, some longtime residents said they had concerns about violence at the bar. James Brown, 58, who has lived in Crown Heights for 30 years, told the NYT, “This was coming. They should have closed it down a long time ago.”
Authorities continue to investigate the shooting and are reviewing surveillance footage and witness statements. The NYPD has urged anyone with information to come forward to aid the investigation.
