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Police are investigating after a late-night mass shooting outside a private event space in Jamaica, Queens where about 100 people had gathered to celebrate the life of a Brooklyn teen who was gunned down just months before.
The Jamaica shooting sent 10 people — teens and young adults — to the hospital. Police say all the victims are expected to live.
NYPD officials say the shooting happened just after 11 p.m. Wednesday outside a venue on 144th Place where the private event was taking place. They said a group of four men had been walking east from 91st Avenue toward the venue, when three to four of them fired around 30 rounds into the crowd outside. Police said about 15 people had been waiting on a line outside as others were leaving.
The crowd had gathered to posthumously celebrate the birthday of Taearion Mungo, a 16-year-old who was shot and killed in Fort Greene near his home last year, according to police. Officials said the venue was packed to capacity, with mourners cycling in and out.
The four men then fled on foot west on 91st Avenue toward 143d Place, where they got into a light-colored sedan with New Jersey license plates, police said.
“Let me start by saying that there’s zero tolerance for these senseless shootings,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera during an overnight press conference. “Those responsible for this crime will be apprehended and brought to justice.”
Police said they are still working to establish a motive.
The shooting happened outside a building that hosts several different venues and private event spaces, including the Amazura Concert Hall. In a message on its social accounts early Thursday morning, Amazura said it was saddened by the “unfortunate isolated incident that occurred.”
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless act. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation and to help bring those responsible to justice,” the venue wrote.
Rivera said the shooting was not a terrorist attack, though it occurred the same day 15 people were killed when a man drove a pick-up truck into a crowd in New Orleans, and a Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel in Nevada — both of which are being investigated as terrorist attacks.
At Ingersoll Houses, the New York City Housing Authority complex where several reports say Mungo lived, a collection of candles spelled out “Taek” and formed a heart Thursday morning. The memorial also included two basketballs and pictures of Mungo hanging along a railing. A sign read “We Forever Love You LLTaeek.”
Elected officials expressed their sympathies for those hurt in Wednesday night’s shooting and their loved ones.
“Ten families woke up this morning to some of the most devastating news one could imagine receiving — their loved one had been shot,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said in a statement.
Authorities say they have not made any arrests as of mid-Thursday morning.
This is a developing story and has been updated.
