In the early hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025, the Taste of the City lounge in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, became the scene of one of New York City’s deadliest shootings in recent memory. Just before 3:30 a.m., a dispute inside the crowded club erupted into violence, leaving three men dead and nine others wounded. The victims, who ranged in age from 19 to 61, were caught in a hail of gunfire that police now believe involved as many as four shooters and may have been gang-related.
According to New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch, officers responded within minutes to multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots at the lounge, located at 903 Franklin Avenue. On arrival, police found a chaotic and grisly scene: three men—aged 19, 27, and 35—were pronounced dead at the scene, while nine others, including both men and women, were rushed to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Tisch later confirmed that a twelfth victim had been found, raising the total number of those shot to twelve. "What we know preliminarily is that there was a dispute inside the crowded club that led to the shooting. We believe that there were up to four shooters involved in this incident," Tisch told reporters, as cited by multiple outlets including NBC New York and Fox News.
Investigators quickly began canvassing the area for clues, pouring over CCTV footage from both inside and outside the lounge. At least 42 shell casings—fired from both 9mm and .45 caliber firearms—were recovered from the scene, painting a picture of a chaotic, multi-directional shootout. A firearm was also discovered on a nearby street, though as of Sunday evening, police were still working to determine whether it had been used in the attack. The New York Times reported that the investigation was ongoing, with detectives scouring for any additional evidence that could tie suspects to the crime.
While the motive remains under investigation, Commissioner Tisch said the shooting appeared to be gang-related, a chilling reminder of the persistent link between gang activity and gun violence in the city. She noted that approximately 60% of shootings across New York City are tied to gangs. In a striking detail, Tisch added that some of those killed may have been among the people firing at the club, suggesting a possible exchange of gunfire between rival groups. "Some of the people killed may have been among the people firing at the club," Tisch stated, according to NBC New York.
Despite the magnitude of the tragedy, Tisch emphasized that such incidents have become rare in New York City. "We have the lowest numbers of shooting incidents and shooting victims seven months into the year that we've seen on record in the city of New York," she said during a news briefing. "Something like this is, of course, thank God, an anomaly and it's a terrible thing that happened this morning, but we're going to investigate and get to the bottom of what went down." This sentiment was echoed by Mayor Eric Adams, who joined Tisch in urging the community to come forward with any information that might help solve the case. "We need your help. If you were inside the club, if you heard individuals talking about this shooting, if you witnessed someone fleeing the location, every piece of information will allow us to put the puzzle together to solve this crime," Adams pleaded, as reported by NBC New York.
As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects were in custody, and the city’s top officials expressed concern about the potential for retaliatory violence in the wake of the shooting. Mayor Adams announced that crisis management teams had been mobilized in the Crown Heights community to provide support and try to prevent further bloodshed. "Gun violence of this magnitude, it really scars a community and a city," Adams remarked, according to the Associated Press.
The Taste of the City lounge, the site of Sunday’s carnage, was no stranger to violence. Police records indicate that there was another non-fatal shooting at the same establishment in November 2024, raising questions about the club’s safety protocols and its history as a flashpoint for conflict. While the investigation into the latest shooting is ongoing, city officials have not yet commented on whether any action will be taken against the lounge’s operators.
The shooting comes at a time when New York City is experiencing a record low in gun violence, a trend that has been widely celebrated by law enforcement and city leaders. Through August 2025, the city has seen fewer shooting incidents and victims than at any comparable point in its recorded history. Yet, as this tragedy makes painfully clear, even in times of relative peace, the specter of gun violence can return with devastating force. As Tisch explained, "It's a terrible shooting that occurred in the city of New York... but we're going to investigate and get to the bottom of what went down."
Community leaders and residents of Crown Heights have expressed shock and sadness in the aftermath of the shooting, describing it as a blow to the neighborhood’s sense of safety. Many are now calling for renewed efforts to address the root causes of gun violence, including gang activity and the proliferation of illegal firearms. The city’s crisis response teams will be working closely with local organizations to provide counseling and support to those affected.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting, the shooters, or the events leading up to the violence to contact authorities. As the city waits for answers, the hope is that swift justice—and renewed community solidarity—can help Crown Heights begin to heal from yet another senseless act of violence.
For now, the Taste of the City lounge stands silent, its doors closed as detectives comb through the aftermath of a night that changed so many lives in an instant. In a city that prides itself on resilience, Sunday’s shooting is a sobering reminder that the fight against gun violence requires constant vigilance, cooperation, and compassion from every corner of the community.
