In the warm evening air of a Brooklyn street, a father's life was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. David Dottin, a 49-year-old male, was enjoying the evening with his two sons, ages 11 and 17, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. They were talking and spending time together near Herkimer Place and Nostrand Avenue on Sunday, September 3, 2017, when the sound of a gunshot shattered the peace.
A stray bullet struck Dottin in the head, and he collapsed in front of his horrified children.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and Dottin was rushed to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead. The shooting occurred as the neighborhood was preparing for the annual J'Ouvert festival. Dottin, who had immigrated to the United States from Barbados in 1988, was a recently retired senior school lunch helper who had worked at PS 163. He was remembered by family as a doting father who was dedicated to his children.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the New York Police Department began an investigation. They recovered three shell casings from the scene, but at the time, they were unable to identify a suspect. As of initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting, and the case remained under investigation. The sudden and violent death of David Dottin left his family and the community in mourning, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence.
