August 19, 2025 CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn — In a story brought to you yesterday, a gruesome display of gang violence that left a community reeling, a late-night argument at a Brooklyn lounge spiraled into a chaotic mass shooting, leaving three people dead and 11 wounded. The deadly exchange, which police say involved at least three gunmen, unleashed a terrifying storm of 42 shots inside the packed Taste of the City Lounge early Sunday morning.

The massacre, which occurred around 3 a.m. on Franklin Avenue, was, according to authorities, the result of a brief but fatal confrontation between two men—19-year-old Marvin St. Louis and 35-year-old Jamel Childs. Just ten minutes after their initial interaction, police say St. Louis opened fire on Childs, triggering a barrage of return fire from Childs and at least two other gunmen.

When the smoke cleared, three men were dead: St. Louis, Childs, and 27-year-old Amadou Diallo. While police believe St. Louis and Childs were active participants in the gunfight, officials say Diallo, a recent immigrant from West Africa, was an innocent bystander. His relative, Mamdou Sansoussy, told Eyewitness News that Diallo had come to the U.S. just two years ago, working honestly as a delivery driver to build a new life. "He was doing the delivery, DoorDash and Uber, gaining in his life with honesty, without stealing nothing," Sansoussy said through a translator. "No problem. Never had any problem here."

A Gang Feud's Tragic Toll

The bloodshed, police believe, is rooted in gang rivalry. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Monday that Jamel Childs was a documented member of the Folk Nation gang, which she described as a "violent gang that terrorizes Brooklyn." Three other shooting survivors are also reportedly affiliated with the gang. "To be clear, two of the three deceased are the shooters involved in the incident," Commissioner Tisch said at a news conference, highlighting Childs' history of eight prior arrests.

Video from inside the lounge captured the sheer terror of the moment, showing a crush of people stampeding for their lives. A witness named Brenda, who was inside the crowded venue, described the scene as her heart "just dropped."

"I said, 'oh lord they are shooting,' I heard 'bap, bap,' oh lord, I said, 'lord have mercy.'"

Residents and witnesses expressed long-held concerns about the lounge's security. David Fletcher, who lives nearby, said he's heard gunshots and seen altercations there before. "Obviously horrified that anyone would lose their lives," Fletcher said, "but also really they are just letting lots of people in with their guns." Brenda also questioned the lounge's professionalism, claiming security guards were "smoking weed with the people" and noting the presence of "a lot of gang-related" individuals. It remains unclear how so many weapons bypassed the metal detectors.

As Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Tisch joined a vigil for the victims Monday night, both leaders vowed to curb the city's gun violence. Mayor Adams called for federal assistance to stop the flow of illegal guns into the city, while police continue to search for the two other gunmen involved in the shooting.