In the summer of 2020, a young man's attempt to build a new life for himself was tragically cut short on the streets of his old neighborhood. Zion Millette-Selby, a 22-year-old Black man, was shot and killed on the evening of Monday, July 27, 2020, in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. The incident occurred at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Avenue D, in the vicinity of Troy Avenue. Two unidentified gunmen reportedly opened fire, striking Millette-Selby in the chest and leg.
Witnesses recounted hearing about four gunshots and seeing him try to flee before he ultimately collapsed. Despite being rushed to Brookdale Hospital, his life could not be saved.
Millette-Selby had made the deliberate choice to leave Brooklyn three years prior, relocating to Virginia in an effort to escape the troubles that had surrounded him. He had returned to his old neighborhood to visit his grandmother, who resided just a few blocks from where the fatal shooting took place. Friends and family remembered him as a good person who was actively trying to turn his life around. He was the father of a young daughter and a newborn son. With the goal of providing a better future for his family, Millette-Selby was pursuing a career in carpentry and was in the process of completing his OSHA training to become licensed.
The investigation into Zion Millette-Selby's death is ongoing, and authorities have suggested that the shooting may have been gang-related. It was reported that a gun was found on Millette-Selby at the scene. Several months before his death, in May of that year, he had been arrested in Virginia on charges related to counterfeit currency. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in connection with his murder, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The community was left to mourn another young life lost to gun violence, with local leaders calling for an end to the bloodshed and for those responsible to be brought to justice.
