In the quiet neighborhood of Little Neck, Queens, a shocking act of violence shattered the Sunday morning calm on October 13, 1991. Andrew T. Brooks Sr., a 75-year-old retired firefighter, was tragically killed in the home he shared with his family. A male, he became a victim in a rampage carried out by his own son, 47-year-old Andrew Brooks Jr.
The younger Brooks, described by neighbors as a 'time bomb,' opened fire inside the family residence, ending his father's life and the lives of
three other men: Brian Ducker, 29, Daniel Gantovnik, 23, and Michael Zarabi, 23. Two other men, Stanley Sultan, 24, and Andrew Lazan, 22, were critically wounded in the attack but managed to escape the house and seek help. Sultan, discovered by attendees of a nearby wedding, was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
Following the horrific shootings in his family's home, Andrew Brooks Jr. fled to a nearby residence in Great Neck, Long Island. There, he took a psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Gregory, 71, and his wife, Eva, 61, hostage at gunpoint. A tense standoff with police ensued, lasting for several hours. During this time, Brooks Jr. fired shots at the surrounding officers but did not cause any further injuries.
As negotiations wore on, Brooks Jr. eventually released Dr. Gregory. Later in the evening, Eva Gregory also managed to escape, leaving the gunman alone in the house. After a period of silence from within, police heard a single gunshot. Using video equipment, law enforcement was able to confirm that Andrew Brooks Jr. had taken his own life, bringing the violent episode to a grim conclusion. Neighbors would later recount a history of bizarre and concerning behavior from Brooks Jr., though he had no prior criminal record or documented history of mental illness treatment.
