An incident unfolded yesterday at NoLiTa bar Tom & Jerry's, where a gunman's fire claimed the life of a staff member, police reported. The incident occurred after 3 a.m. on Elizabeth Street, with shots striking the employee twice in the chest and once in the stomach; the individual was rapidly transported to Bellevue Hospital and was later declared dead, as per information obtained by Gothamist. Law enforcement has not made any arrests yet, and the inquiry is remaining active.
According to witnesses in a New York Daily News report, the deceased was a 39-year-old bouncer, and at least four shots were discharged by the assailant from outside, lodging bullet holes in the window of the establishment. The bouncer's identity has not been disclosed, waiting on the police to notify next of kin.
The violent episode reportedly happened after the man, described as being inebriated, had been ejected from Tom & Jerry's, a fact confirmed by a bystander named Kevin Ames. "They kicked him out and he went outside, and just pulled out a gun," Ames said according to a New York Daily News interview, "[He] shot in the window and killed one of the bouncers."
The shooter, last seen fleeing down E. Houston St., was described as Hispanic, wearing a grey hoodie dark pants, and white shoes. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to come forward and contact local authorities to aid in the ongoing investigation.
