In the quiet neighborhood of Mill Basin, Brooklyn, the evening of June 11, 2020, took a tragic turn for 44-year-old Yosef Hakoun. As he returned to his home on Whitman Drive around 8:50 p.m., a confrontation with two individuals escalated with horrifying speed. An argument broke out, and one of the suspects drew a gun, firing a single, fatal shot that struck Hakoun in the neck.
His wife was present during the harrowing encounter but was physically unharmed.
Emergency services were quick to respond, rushing the gravely injured jeweler to Kings County Hospital. Despite their efforts, Hakoun succumbed to his injuries, leaving a family and community in shock. The two assailants fled the scene in a silver Toyota sedan, disappearing into the city night. As of late 2025, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder, and the case officially remains unsolved, with a motive yet to be determined.
The investigation into Hakoun's death has considered various angles, including potential connections to his profession. The family had a history of being targeted for their involvement in the jewelry business. Hakoun's father, also a jeweler, had survived multiple violent robberies in the years prior. In one incident, he was shot in the chest, and in another, he was attacked and robbed of valuables. These past events have led to speculation about whether Yosef Hakoun's murder was a targeted act related to his family's business, a question that remains unanswered as authorities continue to seek information from the public to bring his killers to justice.
