Damon Haskins, a 41-year-old Black male from Brooklyn, New York, was fatally shot on the evening of September 5, 2015. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near a block party taking place on Sterling Place and Classon Avenue in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. Haskins was discovered with a gunshot wound to his chest and was rushed to Methodist Hospital.
He was in cardiac arrest upon arrival and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The death of Damon Haskins was a profound tragedy for his family, particularly for his mother, Venita Haskins, as it was the second time she had lost a child to gun violence in just over a year. In a tragically similar event, Damon's sister, Tamecca Haskins, had been shot in the chest and killed while attending a Fourth of July celebration in 2014. The recurring violence that plagued the family highlighted a larger issue of gun violence within the community, prompting outrage and calls for action from local activists and leaders.
In the immediate aftermath of Damon Haskins' shooting, the New York Police Department launched an investigation. However, no suspects were identified in the initial stages of the inquiry, and no arrests were made. The case remained open as investigators sought to uncover the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting at the community gathering. His death was one of several violent incidents that occurred in the neighborhood over the Labor Day weekend.
