In the early morning hours in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, a dispute that began inside an after-hours club spilled out into the street, leading to the death of 31-year-old Kareem Wilson. On September 23, 2024, outside the Wave Juice Bar & Lounge near Merrick Boulevard and 126th Avenue, Wilson was reportedly attempting to act as a peacemaker in an argument when he was shot.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m.
Emergency services arrived at the scene to find Wilson with gunshot wounds to his chest and leg. He was quickly transported to Jamaica Hospital, but the injuries he sustained proved to be fatal. A handgun was discovered on the sidewalk, though it was not immediately clear if it was the weapon used in the shooting or if it belonged to Wilson. The assailant fled the area in a dark-colored sedan.
Family members described Wilson, a resident of East Elmhurst, as a man who was actively trying to better his life. He was in his junior year at Berkeley College, where he was studying psychology. He was also a father to a 12-year-old daughter. His family acknowledged that he wasn't perfect but emphasized that he was on a positive path.
In the wake of the shooting, authorities identified 32-year-old Nathan Mahoney as a suspect in the killing of Kareem Wilson. At the time of the initial reports, Mahoney had not been apprehended and remained at large. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
