In the early morning hours of September 16, 2021, a dispute in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn escalated into a fatal shootout. Russel Hazelton, a 29-year-old man, was shot multiple times in front of an apartment building on Lewis Avenue around 5:15 a.m. The altercation allegedly began between Hazelton and another man, 30-year-old Christopher Mackins.
During the confrontation, Mackins allegedly shot Hazelton repeatedly.
Despite his injuries, Hazelton managed to return fire, striking Mackins in the neck. Emergency services arrived to find Hazelton with multiple gunshot wounds; he was rushed to Woodhull Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mackins fled the immediate scene but collapsed a short distance away on Ditmars Street. Police found him there and he was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Shortly after, he was taken into custody. On September 22, 2021, Christopher Mackins was formally charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the death of Russel Hazelton.
