Brooklyn Bay Parkway Chinatown, a Chinese community, was recently shocked by a violent robbery and shooting incident. A 31-year-old Chinese man was robbed and shot multiple times on the street, and his condition was critical when taken to the hospital. After the incident, multiple surveillance videos from the scene circulated widely on Chinese community platforms, sparking high concerns about public safety within the community.
According to the report from the 66th Precinct of the NYPD on May 2nd, the incident took place in front of 858 58th Street in the early hours of April 27th (last Monday) around 3:34 am. At that time, an unidentified man approached the victim, pulled out a gun, and shot him in the abdomen and legs several times. The suspect then robbed the victim of his phone, wallet, and about $300 in cash before fleeing on foot eastbound on 59th Street. Emergency personnel arrived quickly upon receiving the call and rushed the injured victim to Maimonides Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Multiple surveillance videos pieced together crucial details of the incident: In the first footage, a Chinese man stepped out of a white vehicle in the early morning, walked onto the sidewalk, and then paused to examine something in his hand. About 10 meters away, another man approached him, passed by, then suddenly turned back, pulled out a gun, and aimed it at his head.
The second video captured a more intense struggle. The armed man and the victim were seen grappling and pushing towards a courtyard iron fence. During the altercation, the victim, struggling, repeatedly cried out in Fuzhou dialect for help, saying “boss lady!” The suspect wielding the gun threatened and fired a shot as a warning, repeatedly ordering in English, “Give me money” and “Let go.”
The two continued to struggle onto the sidewalk. Despite the victim responding with “okay,” he did not let go, trying to break free and move towards the white car. Seconds later, the suspect fired at least four shots in succession, causing the victim to fall to the ground, collapsing under a tree out of view of the surveillance footage.
Notably, the white vehicle that had been parked on the side of the road with hazard lights on during the incident quickly drove away after the gunfire.
In the third video, it showed the situation when the police arrived: The victim was lying unconscious in a pool of blood, with a Chinese woman at the scene describing to officers that “a Black man had a gun” and committed the crime.
Residents familiar with the situation stated that the victim was a recent immigrant to the U.S., who had just received his paycheck on the day of the incident. Allegedly, the boss lady in the car hesitated to intervene.
The incident sparked widespread discussion on WeChat groups, with many residents expressing concerns about the recent public safety situation in the Bay Parkway area. Some voiced that “this situation cannot continue”, and others sympathized, saying “earning money is not easy, and this child is really pitiful.” There were opinions pointing out that the Chinese community could become a target for organized crime due to carrying cash or being perceived as easy targets, with criminals possibly monitoring different streets in the area, knowing that Chinese individuals may have money or branded items.
Some individuals reflected on the on-site responses, questioning whether they should have “blared the horn to alert everyone to come out” or immediately called the police to deter the crime. However, they also acknowledged that in sudden violent situations, onlookers may panic or hesitate, as it’s natural for people to be overwhelmed in such circumstances, and to remind new immigrants to enhance their awareness of safety precautions. Whether walking home at night or getting out of a car to walk to the doorstep, it’s advised not to lower one’s guard or be distracted by using smartphones; in case of sudden danger, prioritizing self-preservation by letting go of belongings is essential.
The police have released photos and relevant video footage of the suspect on Saturday. According to descriptions, the suspect is a dark-skinned male, last seen wearing a dark hoodie, black pants, and carrying a black Nike backpack. Video footage provided by the police showed the man stepping out of a dark gray sedan, holding a handgun and appearing to chamber a round before closing the door and walking onto the sidewalk.
Authorities urged anyone with information to come forward to assist in swiftly bringing the suspect to justice. Contact information: 1-800-577-8477, website: crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, X platform: @NYPDTips. All sources of information will be strictly confidential.