In the early morning hours of April 19, 2020, a fatal encounter unfolded at a BP gas station in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Michael Ingram, a 33-year-old male from East Orange, New Jersey, was shot multiple times in the arm and chest during what police believe was an exchange of gunfire. The incident occurred around 8:53 a.m. at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Linden Boulevard.
Despite the area typically being busy, the streets were quieter than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in fewer immediate witnesses.
First responders from the 75th Precinct found Ingram lying in the street near his sneaker and jacket. A 9mm handgun, believed to have been used by Ingram during the shootout, was also recovered at the scene. He was quickly transported to Brookdale University Medical Center, but tragically succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes after the shooting. Investigators determined that the assailant fled the scene heading north on Pennsylvania Avenue in a white Mercedes Benz SUV, which had its driver's side window shot out during the gunfight.
Detectives utilized video surveillance from the gas station and surrounding stores to piece together the events of that morning. The investigation led them to identify Dashawn Garland, a 28-year-old resident of Inglewood, California, as the primary suspect. A crucial breakthrough came in June 2020 when a witness positively identified Garland from a photo lineup. As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered that Garland had moved to California.
In January 2021, the Kings County District Attorney's office secured a grand jury indictment against Garland. He was arrested in Inglewood on January 29 and subsequently extradited to Brooklyn on February 5, 2021, to face charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon for his alleged role in Michael Ingram's death. The motive for the shooting and the nature of the connection between Ingram and Garland were not immediately disclosed by authorities.
