Police say two gunmen opened fire near Atlantic Ave. and Warwick St., striking teenagers who had just left a birthday party.
BROOKLYN, NY — A 16-year-old high school junior who was shot three times outside a Sweet 16 party in Cypress Hills said she feared she would die as gunfire scattered kids on a dark East New York block early Sun., Dec. 14. Six teenagers were wounded as two shooters fired into a crowd gathered near an event space, police said.
Authorities say the gunfire erupted just after the birthday party let out, turning a lively weekend celebration into a street scene marked by screams, sirens and stray bullets. Investigators are searching for two men seen on surveillance video walking to the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Warwick Street and then opening fire before fleeing. The teen who spoke out, recovering after surgery, described panic, pain and a frantic rush for cover. The case has drawn citywide attention because one victim is the niece of A.T. Mitchell, City Hall’s gun violence prevention czar, underscoring how deeply the shootings echo across families who have worked to stop them.
Shortly after midnight, teenagers spilled onto the sidewalk awaiting rides when shots cracked down the block, witnesses said. The 16-year-old recalled grabbing a friend’s hand and trying to run before collapsing behind a parked car. “I didn’t want to die,” she said in an interview, describing how she pressed a hand to her side as friends shouted for help. Officers and medics converged within minutes. At least 21 shell casings were later found near the intersection, according to police. The shooters wore hoodies and retreated down Warwick Street after firing. No arrests have been announced.
Police said the victims included two 15-year-old girls, a 15-year-old boy, two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy. All were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at area hospitals. The teen who spoke out underwent surgery and remains in stable condition. Mitchell said his 15-year-old niece was struck three times as she waited for an Uber outside the hall, and that she is expected to recover. Her father, Dawud Mann, said his daughter had made a school dance team hours before the shooting. Detectives are reviewing video from nearby storefronts and canvassing for additional witnesses. Investigators have not identified a motive, and it remains unknown whether the shooters targeted anyone specific or fired randomly into the crowd.
The shooting occurred on a commercial stretch bordered by the Cypress Hills Houses and row homes, an area where youth events often spill onto the sidewalk at closing time. It came during a December weekend that drew extra patrols to nightlife corridors citywide. The incident echoes prior party-related shootings in the city and follows several recent cases where young people were injured on or near major corridors in Brooklyn. In the broader debate over youth gun violence, the case has renewed attention on the mix of social media-organized gatherings, crowded sidewalks and firearms that has complicated late-night policing near event spaces.
Police officials said the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad is assisting the 75th Precinct detective team. Evidence collection included shell casings and ballistic fragments sent for analysis. Detectives are building a timeline from party end times, ride-hailing call logs and neighborhood camera footage. The department plans to release additional surveillance stills as soon as they are processed. No charges have been filed as of Mon., Dec. 29, and the department has not publicly named suspects. Officials said community briefings will be scheduled this week to update families on the investigation. Any future arrests would be presented in Brooklyn Criminal Court, with initial appearances expected within 24 hours of charging.
On the block where the gunfire erupted, broken glass and wilting bouquets still mark the spot where teenagers ducked and ran. “We heard pops, then kids screaming and diving behind cars,” said Carlos Rivera, who lives off Warwick Street and watched EMTs lift stretchers into ambulances. A neighbor who gave her name as Ms. Thompson said she ushered two girls into her foyer to wait for their parents. Mitchell, who has worked with violence interrupter groups for two decades, said this was the first time gunfire had hit his immediate family. “This is exactly what we try to prevent,” he said, adding that his niece is recovering with relatives.
As of Monday afternoon, detectives were still reviewing footage and interviewing witnesses, and the teen who spoke publicly remained hospitalized in stable condition. Police said the next update on the case could come after additional video is released later this week.
Author note: Last updated December 29, 2025.