Jaquan Gause, a 16-year-old male from Brooklyn, New York, was the victim of a fatal drive-by shooting on August 16, 2021. The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Schenck and Atlantic Avenues in the East New York neighborhood. Gause was behind the wheel of his father's Mercedes-Benz, stopped at a red light, when another vehicle pulled alongside, and an occupant opened fire.
He was accompanied by two friends, an 18-year-old male and a 19-year-old female, who sustained injuries but survived the attack.
Gause was struck in the head and rushed to Brookdale University Hospital, where he remained on life support for nearly a week. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was taken off life support on August 22, 2021. His mother, Kizzy Johnson, described her son as a vibrant and outgoing teenager who had a passion for dancing and had just celebrated his 16th birthday a month prior to the shooting. He was a student at Brooklyn Collegiate Preparatory High School.
For a considerable time, the shooting remained unsolved, with the perpetrator at large. However, a major development in the case occurred in May 2024, when the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of 18 alleged members of the H-Block/Billy's and Gates Fam street gangs. These individuals face a sweeping 85-count indictment that includes charges for a series of violent crimes, including the murder of Jaquan Gause.
The investigation revealed that Gause's death was part of a larger pattern of gang-related violence in Brooklyn. Authorities stated that the violence in August 2021, which led to Gause's death and the injury of three others, was initiated by members of the H-Block/Billy's gang. It is alleged that Gause was a member of the rival Gates Fam gang. The indictment charges several individuals, including Nyshaun Perry, Demitri Jean Jacques, and Isaiah Charles, in connection with another murder as part of the same violent spree. The numerous defendants face charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and weapons possession.
