Gunfight outside Brooklyn funeral leaves 2 dead
NEW YORK -- A gunfight broke out on a Brooklyn street during a funeral service where at least one shooter returned fired from inside the church vestibule, leaving two dead and four others injured, according to police.
Investigators are still looking for a gunman or gunmen, CBS New York reports.
Three men opened fire on a crowd outside Emmanuel Church of God in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood Monday evening, police said. Mourners had gathered there for the funeral of 38-year-old Jose Luis Robles, who had died of natural causes.
Investigators are looking at whether the shooting was a gang-related retaliation, examining surveillance video and interviewing witnesses early Tuesday.
The wake was for alleged former gang member, Jose Luis Robles, who died of natural causes, CBS New York reports.
"We want to make sure we prevent any retaliatory shootings that may come from this," city council member Jumaane Williams said.
Police said 15 rounds were fired, and some came from within the church vestibule.
Sharieff Clayton, 40, of the Bronx, and Ronald Murphy, 44, of Brooklyn, were killed. A 38-year-old woman and a 29-year-old woman were also struck and were listed in stable condition early Tuesday. It's not clear whether those injured were intended targets, or random victims.
A 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the stomach was discovered a few blocks away and may be one of the gunman on the street, police said.
Several cars sped away after the shooting and no arrests have been made. Police said a silver vehicle seen near the church was stopped in a different Brooklyn neighborhood.
Williams, whose district includes East Flatbush, planned to join Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams at an anti-gun rally near the church on Tuesday to speak out about the need for measures to combat senseless acts of violence.
Shootings are infrequent in the section of Flatbush where the firefight took place. Residents say they are eager for the gunmen to be caught.
"We want to make sure who did the shootings are held responsible," Williams said.