BROOKLYN, NY – A fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday night behind the Bay View Houses in Canarsie, Brooklyn, marking the first gun-related homicide of the year.
Javel Lawton, a teenager from Brooklyn, was found shot in the upper body around 9 pm on E. 102nd St. near Seaview Ave. Responding to a 911 call and a ShotSpotter alert, police officers and medics rushed Lawton to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The NYPD Chief of Detectives stated that Lawton, who had no arrest record, was likely defending himself during the incident, which may have had gang-related elements.
The altercation involved multiple hooded and masked individuals, and shots were exchanged, resulting in Lawton’s death. Four shell casings were recovered at the scene, but no arrests have been made, and the weapon used by Lawton was not found.
The incident is under ongoing investigation. The NYPD asks anyone with information to come forward and contact the local authorities.