Mass shooting in Harlem: boy basketball star dies

A 21-year-old who was a high school basketball star is killed. Eight more people were injured in a shootout in Harlem on Monday night, reports ABC7.

Seven men and two women, aged 21 to 42, were shot in a park along the East River near Fifth Avenue and East 139th Street at 00:35.

The victims were enjoying the party, but gunfire soon rang out.

Darius Lee, who graduated from St. Raymond High School in 2019, was rushed to Lincoln Hospital. There he was pronounced dead.

“We are heartbroken and devastated to learn of the senseless passing of Darius Lee, Class of 2018,” the school wrote in an Instagram post. “Our prayers and condolences go out to his family at this time. And we pray for his eternal rest with our Lord. In addition to being a shining basketball star, he was a wonderful young man living a positive life, excelling academically, on the court, and in life. These senseless acts of violence must stop.”

A memorial is growing near Darius Lee's apartment.

Five victims with gunshot wounds were found on a footpath above Harlem River Drive. And the rest came to the Harlem hospital.

One resident of the area told eyewitnesses that there were so many shots that she could not believe her ears.

“I was sitting in my living room. And all I heard were single shots,” she said. Then he stopped and picked up speed again. You know, there were so many shots. At first I thought it was fireworks, and then I realized: “No, this cannot be.”

Detectives study ballistics to determine how many weapons were used. They believe that several people shot at each other using the same weapon.

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The barbecue was hosted by local rapper Rich Rymer. And there were a lot of people there.

“We just think it was a party, a barbecue,” said NYPD Deputy Chief Brian McGee.

The remaining eight victims have non-life-threatening injuries. But they received gunshot wounds in the torso, legs, back and even fingers.

No arrests have been made so far. It is unclear what caused the shooting.

The police are asking for help from the public, the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Prevention Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or Spanish at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit tips by visiting the CrimeStoppers website at toppers.nypdonline.org crimes or by tweeting @NYPDTips.

As of June 20, there have been 277 mass shootings in the United States this year.