On what should have been a joyous celebration of his 25th birthday, Unique Gilkes, a male resident of Weeksville, Brooklyn, was tragically shot and killed on June 5, 2016. The fatal incident occurred just a block from his home on Saint Johns Place. Responding to a call shortly before 5 p.m., police officers discovered Gilkes with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.
He was rushed to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing at least six gunshots and seeing Gilkes lying motionless on the street, losing a significant amount of blood. A father of two young children, a son and a daughter, Gilkes was remembered as a loving and dedicated parent with dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and opening a chain of barbershops. He had attended Job Corps Academy, where he earned his high school diploma and a trade in security.
In the wake of the shooting, the New York Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. Despite their efforts and pleas to the public for information, no immediate arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly identified. The motive behind the shooting remained unclear, leaving a community in mourning and a family searching for answers. The investigation into the death of Unique Gilkes remains ongoing as authorities continue to seek justice for the young father whose life was cut short on his birthday.
