In the summer of 2025, a burst of gunfire shattered the evening quiet in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, leaving a young man clinging to life. On the night of Sunday, July 13th, police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in progress at the Kingsborough Houses. There, in front of 253 Kingsborough 2nd Walk, they discovered 22-year-old William Blakney with a gunshot wound to his head.
Emergency medical services rushed Blakney to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, where he was listed in critical condition. For five days, he fought for his life, but his injuries proved to be too severe. William Blakney, a resident of the Kingsborough Houses, succumbed to his injuries on Friday, July 18, 2025. Following his death, the Chief Medical Examiner officially ruled the shooting a homicide.
As the investigation into Blakney's death began, details emerged of a second victim. A 40-year-old man had also been shot, sustaining a wound to his right leg. He was transported by private means to Interfaith Medical Center and was reported to be in stable condition.
In the wake of the shooting, the community was left searching for answers. As of the initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting death of William Blakney. The New York City Police Department's investigation into the double shooting remains active and ongoing as they continue to seek those responsible for the violence that claimed a young life.
