What should’ve been a chill late-night vibe turned into a terrifying scene. In the early hours of Sunday morning, chaos erupted at a Brooklyn hookah spot, Taste of the City Lounge. Now, the incident has left families shattered and a community in shock.
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Late Night Turns Deadly In Brooklyn
Around 3:30 a.m. on August 17, NYPD officers responded to frantic 911 calls about a shooting at Taste of the City Lounge, located at 903 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. And, what they found was devastating. A total of twelve people were shot, including three men who tragically lost their lives — a 19-year-old pronounced dead at the scene, and two others, ages 27 and 35, who later died at the hospital. Reports claim the gunfire may have been the result of a gang dispute. Additionally, they believe up to four shooters were involved.
Club Packed, Chaos Breaks Out
Furthermore, some of those hit were reportedly innocent bystanders just trying to enjoy their night. One witness, a 39-year-old man, described seeing a regular patron — “just outside the bathroom, hitting a hookah” — get fatally shot. Of the nine wounded (six men and three women), their injuries were thankfully non-life-threatening, with victims ranging up to 61 years old. At least 36 shell casings were recovered from the lounge, which was reportedly packed and tight inside.
No Arrests, Investigation Still Ongoing
Police say they’ve recovered one firearm near Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway. However, they’re still investigating whether it was used in the attack. No arrests have been made as of yet. Officers in hazmat suits were spotted entering the lounge hours after the shooting, while surveillance footage is being pulled from both the club and a nearby grocery store. Footage posted on social media showed a grim scene inside the lounge — broken glass, bloodstains, and visible panic.
Taste of the City Lounge, known for serving up American and Caribbean food with a side of hookah and DJ sets, opened in 2022 — but this isn’t the first time violence has struck. Back in November 2024, the same venue saw another shooting, which thankfully didn’t result in fatalities.
Commissioner, Jessica Tisch, reacted to the incident and seemingly pointed out that NYC is currently seeing record lows in shootings this year — but for the families affected this weekend, that’s seemingly little comfort.
“We have the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims seven months into the year we’ve seen on record in the city of New York,” Tisch said. “Something like this is, of course, thank god, an anomaly and it’s a terrible thing that’s happened this morning.”
