Police have arrested and charged a suspect in the shooting that injured eight people, including four children, during a Fourth of July barbecue in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood.
The NYPD announced Wednesday that 44-year-old Robert Smith now faces multiple counts of attempted murder in connection with the attack. Investigators had spent days searching for the gunman after he fled the scene on foot immediately following the shooting.
How the Attack Unfolded
The violence broke out just after 10:30 p.m. on July 4, in a courtyard near West 30th Street and Surf Avenue, a location just blocks from the Riegelmann Boardwalk. According to police, a man wearing a ski mask approached a family gathering and opened fire without any warning, catching the group completely off guard.
Eight people were struck by gunfire. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the victims included a 37-year-old man, a 33-year-old man, two women, ages 21 and 25, and four boys, ages 6, 7, 12, and 14. Most of the injuries were not considered life-threatening, but the 21-year-old woman suffered a chest wound and was left in critical condition. As of earlier this week, she remained hospitalized.
At the scene, officers recovered a TEC-9-style firearm fitted with an extended magazine, along with ten spent shell casings, underscoring the intensity of the gunfire during the brief attack.
Possible Motive Still Under Investigation
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting, nor have they detailed exactly how detectives identified and located Smith. However, Commissioner Tisch told reporters that investigators are examining a potential link between this shooting and a separate gang-related killing that took place on the same block just days earlier.
The case has drawn heightened attention given the number of children caught in the gunfire and the fact that it occurred during a holiday celebration meant to bring families together. Community members have expressed shock that such violence could erupt during what should have been a festive summer evening.
The NYPD has not indicated whether additional suspects may be involved or whether more charges could follow as the investigation continues. Officials have asked anyone with information related to the shooting or the earlier homicide on the same block to come forward and assist detectives working to piece together a full timeline of events leading up to the attack.
