12:06am sunday - fireworks or gunshots?

Gunshots.

From Gothamist

Shooting

789 Dean St & Washington Ave

Brooklyn, NY

1/9/2011 12:20 a.m.

BROOKLYN: *SHOOTING* 789 DEAN ST & WASHINGTON AVE. PD O/S WITH A MALE SHOT IN THE LEG, LEVEL 1 MO

SOS Shooting response today (Tuesday) at 6:00.

Today's shooting response was on the small side, about 12 people.

As per the SOS folks:

Basically, the Nigerian Muslim Association hall on Dean and Washington was rented to celebrate a baby shower, and violence broke out directly in front of the hall as the event was ending.

[I didn't ask for details re: motive, etc.]

This was the 77th Pcts first shooting of the year: 3 shot. All lived.

As one might expect at a baby shower, the shooting was reportedly witnessed by dozens of people of all ages.

As the organizers pointed out tonight, this is a "public health and public mental health crisis" as much as it is a criminal one.

(i.e. whether folks live or whether they caught the suspect doesn't really mitigate the effect of the violence on those who saw it, or stop a cycle of violence from occurring.....)

I have no idea.

[A few 77th pct cops occasionally read this board and may be able to help you out.]

...but if the SOS account is correct (that it was at the Nigerian Muslim Association old armory, as opposed to the nearby church that the Daily News cites), I imagine they did, or soon will. Even if witnesses didn't cooperate with the police, I've noticed that the armory hall has video cameras that watch the sidewalk.

A few years ago, I asked one of the Nigerian Association staff if I could come in and look at the hall. He said sure, and explained that it is available for rent to everyone. The hall is an old armory, so it is really big. I estimate it to have room for three full size basketball courts. It is in good repair.

As a result of his "we rent to everyone" offer, I also have no idea if the baby shower was predominantly attended by Nigerian Muslims, or some other group that just rented it for the night.

Summary: For facts on what happened or has happened since, I'm a lousy source.