An unidentified gunman got out of a black SUV near Sterling Place and Albany Avenue in Crown Heights Friday evening, approached a 50-year-old man, displayed a firearm and shot him in the buttocks and leg before fleeing in the same vehicle, according to police. The attack happened around 8:57 p.m. in the 77th Precinct, and investigators are now asking the public for help tracking down the shooter.
The account comes from NYPD Crime Stoppers
, which posted a wanted alert describing the attack and asking anyone with information to come forward. After displaying the weapon and shooting the victim, the unidentified individual fled in the black SUV, which headed westbound on Sterling Place toward an unknown destination, per the alert.
Crime Stoppers, which operates out of New York City under the handle @NYPDTips, is offering a reward of up to $3,500 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. Tipsters can call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), use the Spanish-language hotline at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or reach out directly on X at @NYPDTips.
A String of Violence in the 77th Precinct
Friday's shooting adds to a string of violent incidents that have struck the 77th Precinct this year. Back in May, a gunman opened fire in the lobby of the Albany Houses at 1400 Bergen Street in Crown Heights, wounding a 29-year-old man in the left leg after approaching him and firing multiple rounds with a silver firearm, according to amNY. That shooting, which happened around 5:50 p.m. on May 22, was described by the outlet as the fourth reported shooting that year in the precinct.
A separate shooting unfolded in nearby Prospect Heights, where a 52-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, including to his head, in front of 323 Lincoln Place around 10:05 p.m. on June 20. He was taken to Methodist Hospital in critical condition, the outlet reported.
Citywide Numbers Offer Mixed Picture
Citywide, shooting numbers have shown some improvement this year. As of May 18, there were 247 shootings reported across New York City, a 13.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, per amNY's report. A CompStat extract for the 77th Precinct covering the week of October 19 through October 25 was also made available, though it does not include readable crime figures that would show whether local trends have shifted since then.
No arrests have been announced in connection with Friday's shooting, and the current status of the investigation beyond the public appeal for tips remains unclear. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers through the channels listed above.
