NYPD: Sundance Oliver in custody after shooting spree that killed 17-year-old girl, 21-year-old man

Police: Suspect in NYC shooting spree has long criminal history

NEW YORK -- The NYPD says the suspected gunman turned himself in after a shooting spree that left two people dead and another wounded across Brooklyn and Manhattan. 

Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Sundance Oliver

They say he shot a 96-year-old man in the leg with a stray bullet Tuesday in Crown Heights, then went on to kill a 21-year-old man and 17-year-old girl. 

See live updates below for the latest on the investigation. 

 

Sundance Oliver expected to make first court appearance

Suspect accused in New York City shooting spree expected in court

NEW YORK -- The man who police say went on shooting spree across New York City, killing two people and injuring one, is expected to make his first appearance in court Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Sundance Oliver, 28, faces charges of murder, robbery and assault.

Click here to read the full story.

By Tim McNicholas
 

New video shows crime spree suspect surrendering to police in Brooklyn

New video shows crime spree suspect surrendering to police in Brooklyn

New video shows the suspect accused of going on a crime spree across three boroughs surrendering to police.

Sundance Oliver can be seen walking into the 77th Precinct station house in Brooklyn on Tuesday. He's then seen raising his arms as police point their guns at him. One of the officers then drags him to the ground and arrests him.

Oliver is accused of fatally shooting two people, one in the East Village and one in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

He's also accused of shooting a 96-year-old man in a wheelchair.

Oliver is facing numerous charges, including murder, robbery and assault.

By CBS New York Team
 

96-year-old man, families of those killed speak out

For the first time, we are hearing from some of the victims of Sundance Oliver's alleged violent spree, including the shooting of a 96-year-old man who was waiting for the bus in his wheelchair, and the family of the slain 17-year-old girl.

The slew of violence left more than one family destroyed. CBS2's Hannah Kliger was at the spot in Brooklyn where that 96-year-old man was hit in the leg by a stray bullet, allegedly fired by Oliver on Monday morning. On Tuesday morning, that victim left the hospital and is at home recovering.

"I heard a gun shot. When the gun shot ... I felt it because my leg jumped and I look down, my leg is bleeding," victim Sandy Dewalt said.

Family members of those killed in shooting spree speak out

Dewalt sat on his couch at home with his wife. His right leg was wrapped in bandages. He was in his wheelchair when police say Oliver fired a shot while allegedly trying to rob a woman.

"Thank God it was not worse than what it was. He could've killed me," Dewalt said.

He is shaken, but thankful the bullet didn't do more damage.

About a mile away in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Tasha Rattray-Brothers spoke about her 17-year-old daughter.

"I just want to tell her I love her and hold her and be there for her, but I can't because somebody took that away from me," Rattray-Brothers said.

The family identified her as Keyaira Rattray-Brothers, who was shot at around midnight.

"She was smart, funny, energetic. She liked to sing. She liked to dance," father Kevin Brothers said.

Her whole family was supposed to take Christmas photos this weekend.

"How could we do family pictures without my child? How? It can't happen. I just want my baby back," Tasha Rattray-Brothers said.

Now, the family is left to mourn the high school student and aspiring singer.

"Keyaira, I love you. I love you. I miss you and I'm sorry, so sorry," sister Ashanti Rattray said.

Police have also released the identity of another man allegedly killed by Oliver, 21-year-old Kevon Langston, who was shot Monday afternoon on the Lower East Side. Investigators say the two people Oliver killed both knew him. The family said they don't know about the connection.

By Hannah Kliger
 

Sundance Oliver undergoing psychiatric evaluation

NYPD shares details of shooting spree suspect's recent alleged crimes

Sundance Oliver is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation. 

Police say his reign of terror began several days ago in late November. 

He's accused of two murders, a shooting, robbery, and assault.  

Paramedics wheeled Sundance Oliver out of the 77th precinct Tuesday morning where he started acting violently in a holding cell. The 28-year-old surrender there hours before after an all-out manhunt including SWAT and helicopters intensified as detectives connected him to more and more crimes.

"These incidents spanned across three boroughs, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan and culminated in his arrest and our massive and extensive search," said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig. 

NYPD briefing on arrest of Sundance Oliver in shooting spree

Police say Oliver's violent spree first began last month: 

  • On November 21st, he allegedly robbed a victim, stealing over $4,000
  • On December 3rd, police say he punched his girlfriend in the face, causing injuries
  • December 4th, he fired into a bodega when a victim he was trying to rob ran inside for help

"The next day, December 5th, he begins his killing and bloodshed," Essig said. 

Police say Monday morning, Oliver accidentally shot a 96-year-old man in a wheelchair while aiming for another woman at the Kingsborough Houses. That woman was the girlfriend of a man officers believe previously tried to shoot Oliver. 

Then, six hours later at the Smith Houses in the East Village, Oliver allegedly shot and killed a 21-year-old man. 

Around midnight, he then returned to the Kingsborough Houses and allegedly killed a 17-year-old girl. 

"We know that both homicide victims are known to our perpetrator. But the motive is not yet known at this time as to why he killed them and the investigation continues," Essig said. 

Detectives say Oliver frequented both victim's homes and is known to smoke marijuana there. He's a member of a local gang known for robberies and has 31 prior arrests. He was out on parole for an armed robbery back in 2015. 

Neighbors are relieved he's back behind bars. 

"Safer that he's off the streets, an it's good that he turned himself in," one person said. 

"This neighborhood doesn't need any more people on high alert or to feel like their lives are in danger," said another. 

The gun has not been recovered yet. 

Charges include robbery and attempted murder, with more charges expected. 

By Christina Fan
 

NYPD: Oliver was involved in a host of crimes since late November

NYPD briefing on arrest of Sundance Oliver in shooting spree

NYPD officials outlined a litany of crimes they allege Sunshine Oliver was involved in since late November. They say the crimes include a robbery, assaulting a woman, robbing a bodega, and more. 

Oliver is being charged with three counts of robbery and attempted murder. Additional charges are pending. 

They added the weapon in the shootings has not been recovered and they are looking for it.   

Police say Oliver became "agitated" while being held in his cell and started to destroy property, so he was subdued and taken to a hospital. 

By CBS New York Team
 

NYPD announces 2:30 p.m. update

The NYPD is expected to provide an update on the investigation during a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

Watch streaming live on CBS News New York

By CBS New York Team
 

Oliver turns himself in, taken away in ambulance

As CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reported, we learned from the NYPD the suspect turned himself in. We're also finding out he's no stranger to police. 

Sundance Oliver, 28, was seen getting into an ambulance just outside the 77th Precinct shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The ambulance drove off heading south on Utica Avenue, bound for Kings County Hospital. 

Police say Oliver is the suspect they spent nearly 24 hours looking for. 

"Safer that he is off the streets. It's good that he did turn himself in," Crown Heights resident Matthew Finch told CBS2.

It felt like a war zone for some Crown Heights residents overnight. An army of officers, including SWAT and other high-profile authorities, and even a police helicopter swarmed the neighborhood for the frantic search. 

At one point, police believed Oliver was armed and extremely dangerous. 

"This neighborhood doesn't need any more people at high alert or to feel like their lives are in danger," Crown Heights resident Madge Philanthrope said.

Police said Oliver has been arrested more than 10 times. 

"Sundance Oliver is very well known to us. He has 12 prior arrests, including criminal possession of a weapon, at least two times for a robbery, two times for menacing and various other charges. He's on parole for robbery as we speak," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig told reporters early Tuesday morning. 

Now that the search is over, we're hearing charges are pending. We should expect to get an update from police during a press conference at 2:30 p.m.

By Elijah Westbrook
 

Breaking down the investigation and connection to the victims

Loved ones remember 17-year-old killed in NYC shooting spree

For almost 24 hours, the suspect was on the run after allegedly shooting three people. 

Two of them died. The most recent took place Friday morning, and was just a teenager. 

An early Tuesday deadly shooting in Crown Heights, Brooklyn sparked panic and a heavy police presence. 

"When I showed up, I saw like 50 cops," one person said. 

Detectives allege 28-year-old Sundance Oliver fatally shot a 17-year-old girl at the Kingsborough Houses just after midnight. 

"The victim was removed to an area hospital, which she succumbed to her wounds," said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell

It's the same public housing complex where Monday, around 9 a.m., Oliver shot a 96-year-old man in the leg while he was sitting in a wheelchair at a bus stop, according to Sewell. She said she thinks he intended to shoot a woman he just robbed. 

"We believe that that bullet was fired. It missed the female and instead struck our male victim," Sewell said. 

Six hours after that in Manhattan, at the Smith Houses, which is another public housing complex in the East Village, police say they believe Oliver fatally shot 21-year-old Kevon Langston. 

Sources say Oliver used to live at that complex. 

Detectives confirmed Oliver knew both of the people he allegedly killed, but still a motive is unclear. 

"Based on evidence collected and all three crime scenes and a number of investigative steps, it has been determined that the shooter is the same in all three of these incidents," Sewell said. 

By John Dias
 

Crown Heights residents let out sigh of relief

Sources: Sundance Oliver in custody after shooting spree

CBS2's John Dias spoke with Crown Heights residents who said they couldn't be happier Oliver was in custody and off the streets.

"Better that they caught him, of course," one man said. 

"Safer that he is off the streets. It's good that he did turn himself in," another added.

"This neighborhood doesn't need any more people at high alert or to feel like their lives are in danger," said a woman. "Now, we're not going to be so worried about that."

Police said Oliver knew the 21-year-old man and 17-year-old girl he fatally shot, but investigators have not yet determined the motive. 

By John Dias
 

Sources: Oliver in custody

Sources: Shooting spree suspect in custody

Sources tell CBS2 the suspected gunman, Sundance Oliver, is now in custody in Brooklyn.

Stick with CBS2 and CBS News New York for the very latest developments. 

By CBS New York Team
 

Overnight update on investigation

17-year-old girl killed in deadly shooting spree

The NYPD released new details overnight in the investigation:

First shooting incident

Police say the shooting spree started around 9:30 a.m. Monday in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. 

Oliver allegedly tried to rob a 39-year-old woman of her cellphone and jacket outside the Kingsborough Houses. Sources told CBS2 he fired off a shot, hitting a 96-year-old man in a wheelchair who was waiting for a bus across the street.

The victim was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his right ankle. He is expected to survive.  

NYPD presser on deadly shooting spree

Second incident

Then around 2:40 p.m. Monday, police received a 911 call about another shooting in Lower Manhattan. 

They found a 21-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds on the sixth floor of the Smith Houses. 

He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Third shooting

Shortly before midnight, police say Oliver shot a 17-year-old girl in the chest back at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. 

She was also rushed to the hospital, where she died of her injuries. 

Investigators believe the 21-year-old and 17-year-old victims were "associates" of Oliver. It's unclear why there were targeted. 

"Based on evidence collected at all three crime scenes and a number of investigative steps, it has been determined that the shooter is the same in all three of these incidents," NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell told reporters. 

Sewell added the NYPD is on "high alert," and Oliver should be considered "armed and extremely dangerous."

"Should you encounter him, do not approach him. Call the police immediately," she said. 

By CBS New York Team
 

Suspect photo released

Citywide manhunt underway for Sundance Oliver

Investigators say they are searching for 28-year-old Sundance Oliver. 

He is considered "armed and extremely dangerous."

Oliver is currently on parole for robbery and has 12 prior arrests. 

He has the letters "M" and "G" tattooed under his eye and a large rose with the words "rich forever" tattooed on his neck. 

By CBS New York Team
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