In the early hours of a Monday morning in Queens, New York, the life of 58-year-old Errol Blackwood, a Black man, was tragically cut short. On June 11, 2018, what began as a night out ended in a fatal burst of violence that left a community shaken and a family grieving. The events of that morning would spark a police investigation that, to this day, leaves many questions unanswered.
The night was still young for some when Errol Blackwood found himself outside the Jouvay Night Club on
Liberty Avenue. It was approximately 3:30 a.m., and the sounds of the city were punctuated by the chaos of multiple gunshots. Witnesses later recounted hearing as many as 15 to 20 shots fired in rapid succession. In the midst of this violence, Blackwood was struck multiple times. At the time of the shooting, he was reportedly speaking with a woman, leading police to believe she may have been the intended target.
Despite his severe injuries, a wounded Errol Blackwood managed to get into his silver Volvo sedan. In a desperate attempt to save his own life, he began to drive, presumably towards the nearest hospital. Surveillance footage from a nearby intersection captured his car moving forward before he tragically lost control. The vehicle veered off the road, striking at least two parked cars before coming to a final, devastating stop. The heroic effort to reach help had ended just a few blocks from where the shooting had occurred.
When police and emergency services arrived at the scene of the crash, they found Errol Blackwood unresponsive in the driver's seat. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, but his injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead, turning a chaotic crime scene into a homicide investigation. In the immediate aftermath, police scoured the area for evidence, noting what appeared to be bullet holes in the wall of the Jouvay Night Club. The investigation into who fired the fatal shots began, but as of the latest available reports, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the death of Errol Blackwood. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones and the Queens community.
