Teen shot, killed during scuffle at Brooklyn park: NYPD
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (PIX11) – A 15-year-old boy died after he was shot during a scuffle at a park in Brooklyn Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The shooting happened in McLaughlin Park in Downtown Brooklyn around 1:45 p.m., according to the NYPD.
The victim was sitting on a park bench after school with two high school girls when two "high school-aged" boys approached them, according to NYPD Chief James Essig.
The victim and the other two boys exchanged words, then they started fist-fighting, Essig said. That's when one of the assailants allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim once in the abdomen.
The shooter and the other assailant fled eastbound on Tillary Street and haven't been caught. The shooter was wearing all black and a black ski mask. The second assailant was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and a mask covering his face, police said.
The victim was a student at the Brooklyn LAB Charter School located two blocks away. He was initially hospitalized in critical condition but later died from his injury, authorities said.
At least 30 other people were in McLaughlin Park when the shooting happened, police said. NYPD officials asked for witnesses to come forward with any information about the incident.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).