In the early morning hours of March 15, 2014, Gilbert Kelly, a 65-year-old Black male known as the self-appointed steward of his Clinton Hill, Brooklyn block, was shot and killed. For years, Kelly, who was homeless, was a beloved and trusted presence on Grand Avenue between Putnam and Gates Avenues. Residents paid him a small monthly stipend to keep their stoops clean, sort their recycling, and watch out for any suspicious activity.
Many would fall asleep to the sound of his crooning of Motown classics as he swept the street.
On that fateful night, at approximately 4:00 a.m., Kelly was pushing his shopping cart when he encountered a group of six young men, including 18-year-old Victorious Kingsberry, who were returning from a party. According to trial testimony, the group was being loud, and Kelly asked them to be quiet out of respect for the sleeping neighbors. This led to a heated dispute. As the group approached him, Kelly pulled out a kitchen knife. In response, Kingsberry and his friends crossed to the other side of the street.
From across the street, Kingsberry pulled out a. 380 caliber handgun and fired, striking Kelly in the chest. The group then fled the scene. Emergency services were called, and Kelly was transported to Brooklyn Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The community mourned the loss of the man they called the "protector" of their block, holding a memorial service that was attended by a diverse crowd of neighbors. They collected money to pay for his funeral and burial.
More than a month after the shooting, on April 24, 2014, the NYPD's Violent Felony Squad arrested Victorious Kingsberry. He was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Kingsberry had a prior criminal record with 15 arrests. In November 2015, a jury convicted Kingsberry on both charges. In March 2016, he was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison.
