NYPD investigating shooting death of 15-year-old in Brooklyn
NEW YORK -- Family and friends are mourning the loss of a teen who was shot to death in Brooklyn.
CBS New York was told the gun violence happened outside of the Bay View Houses, where a vigil was being held Wednesday to honor 15-year-old Javel Lawton.
Police said they believe he was the intended target.
The NYPD had a presence at the NYCHA complex, located along East 102nd Street, throughout Wednesday. Police were called there on Tuesday at around 9 p.m. and said they found Lawton shot in the torso. He was pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital.
CBS New York spoke with a resident who heard the gunshots and saw the aftermath.
"One and then three (shots) in rapid succession, and then probably after a minute I heard some kids screaming," the resident said. "I didn't see the shooting, itself. I just saw the aftermath of him laying there, police coming, and them putting him in an ambulance. I wish I could say it was an uncommon thing. Unfortunately, it's not, but it was kind of shocking seeing that."
Sadly, the killing was the second of the new year.
The NYPD released end-of-year crime statistics on Wednesday afternoon, and noted a drop in both shootings and shooting deaths, citywide, in 2023. The latter fell by 11.9%, compared to the previous year. The former dropped by 320, which is a more than a 24% decline.
Police have not yet made any arrests. They're also working on figuring out a motive for the shooting.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.