By Larry Celona, Steven Vago and Priscilla DeGregory
A 15-year-old student died Wednesday after he was shot by a masked gunman in a crowded Downtown Brooklyn park near his high school, cops said.
Unique Smith, a student at Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools, was shot by one of two masked bandits he had gotten into a fistfight with in McLaughlin Park Wednesday afternoon.
He had been hospitalized in critical condition, but died of his injuries in the hospital Wednesday evening, police sources and the boy’s grandfather told The Post.
Smith was sitting on a bench in the park with two school-age girls when two male assailants approached him wearing ski masks, Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a press conference following the shooting.
“Words were exchanged and a fist fight ensued,” Essig said. “The male – who is described as wearing all black and a black mask – removed a firearm firing one time and striking our victim.”
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The two suspects then fled the park on Tillary Street towards Adams, Essig said.There were at least 30 others in the park at the time, Essig said.
A 15-year-old was in critical condition after he was shot at a Downtown Brooklyn park.William Farrington for NY Post
The police are searching the area and looking for video of the two suspects, including the shooter, a law enforcement source said.
Smith’s grandfather, Kenneth Davis, said he is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who turns over the boy’s killer.
“Put that in your paper: A $5,000 reward from the grandfather,” he told The Post.
Police had no motive for the attack on Smith, whose charter school has been open since August. It comes on the eve of the start of classes for the city public schools. But sources told The Post, the victim was targeted.
Essig said investigators would check with the school to see if any argument had occurred during the day and he encouraged witnesses to come forward with any information about the fight.
Two witnesses were also being questioned at the 84th precinct, Essig said.
Read the full article on the NY Post website at https://nypost.com/2022/09/07/teen-shot-in-chest-in-downtown-brooklyn-park/