Mass Shooting at Haitian Restaurant Taste of the City Lounge in Brooklyn Leaves 3 Dead, Multiple Wounded
Crown Heights, Brooklyn – Early Sunday, August 17, 2025 — A mass shooting at the Haitian restaurant and lounge Taste of the City, located on Franklin Avenue, resulted in a devastating loss: three people were killed and nine others wounded. Authorities believe the incident to be gang-related.
(AP News)
Victims and the Shooting
- Fatalities:
- Marvin St. Louis, 19 (Brooklyn) – pronounced dead at the scene.
- Jamel (Andre) Childs, 35 (Brooklyn) – died later at the hospital; identified as a member of the Folk Nation gang.
- Amadou Diallo, 27 (Manhattan) – presumed innocent bystander, also died in hospital. (AP News)
- Injured:
- Nine survivors aged between 27 and 61 received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
What Happened
- The shooting began around 3:27–3:30 a.m. after a dispute inside the lounge.
- Four gunmen opened fire; police recovered 42 shell casings (9mm & .45 caliber) and one firearm at the scene.
- Surveillance footage suggests an argument between St. Louis and Childs escalated into mutual gunfire, involving additional shooters.
Official Response
- NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the gang-related nature of the incident. Two of the three deceased were involved in the shooting.
- Mayor Eric Adams and Attorney General Letitia James attended a public vigil, urging calm and denouncing retaliation.
- Crisis management and trauma support teams were mobilized for the local community.
Broader Context
Though NYC’s overall gun violence rates have declined in 2025, this marks the second mass shooting in recent weeks, intensifying community fears and sparking debate on how best to curb gang-related violence.
Conclusion
The mass shooting at the Haitian-owned Taste of the City Lounge underscores the devastating impact of gang disputes on communities. For Crown Heights, it is not just a crime statistic, but a tragedy tearing through families and a cultural landmark.
