A 24-year-old man was shot dead outside a Brooklyn escape room as he celebrated his birthday early Thursday, according to police and a local rep.
The victim was blasted in the chest outside the Peddlers and Parchments Escape Room, billed as a “Jewish escape room,” on Avenue M near East 19th Street in Midwood around 12:20 a.m., cops said.City Council Member Chaim Deutsch, who represents the area, told reporters that authorities informed him the victim was holding a private birthday celebration at the venue.
Both the victim and shooter were armed, he said.“It was a crowd that came here to start trouble,” Deutsch said. “People should be allowed to enjoy themselves, but enjoying themselves is not when you come to a party with guns.”
“I don’t remember the last time we had a shooting in this area in Midwood, and it’s totally unacceptable, and I’m going to hold this leadership, I’m going to hold our administration accountable for the gun violence that’s occurring throughout our city,” he added.The shooting appeared to be gang-related, according to cops, who didn’t provide any additional details.
Surveillance video viewed by the Post, which could not be released, shows a group of people standing outside as the victim argues with a girl.
The pair moves away from the crowd as they continue arguing, the clip shows. The victim then heads to his car and makes a wild U-turn on Avenue M, settling on East 19th Street.
He then walks back to the group, with his back turned to them, and reaches towards his waist before firing a gun — although he didn’t seem to hit anyone. One person in the group fires back and the victim falls to the ground, the video shows.
The girl he was arguing with then comes over to look, and someone else starts performing CPR.The victim was rushed to New York Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No arrests have been made, and the victim’s identity has not yet been released pending family notification. He had a prior arrest history, according to police sources.
“The Jewish Escape Room is really open,” a banner on the front of the building reads. “Welcoming school trips, and parties in our elegant 35 person gallery party room. Best team wins $1,000. Jews, Non-Jews are very welcome!”
