On the warm evening of September 4, 2023, amid the vibrant energy of the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, New York, a fatal encounter unfolded, forever altering the lives of two families. Malik Muhammad, a 51-year-old male photographer known to some as 'Mookie,' was shot and killed following a confrontation. The festive atmosphere of the parade was shattered by the violence that erupted on Sterling Place near Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights, just a few blocks from the main parade
route.
According to accounts from that evening, a dispute occurred between Muhammad and another man. The nature of the disagreement remains unclear, but it tragically escalated to gunfire. Muhammad’s father, Hamza Malik, later recounted the heartbreaking story, stating that his son was shot in the back multiple times. Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic and grim picture, with one bystander recalling the numerous shots fired, ensuring that Muhammad would not survive. Despite the swift arrival of paramedics and their valiant efforts to save him, Malik Muhammad was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the alleged gunman fled the scene. However, in a surprising turn of events, he returned to the area shortly after. Bystanders who had witnessed the tragic event quickly identified him to the police. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 39-year-old Sergio Codrington. He was arrested and subsequently charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. The swift arrest brought a small measure of solace to a community shaken by the senseless violence that had marred a day of cultural celebration. While Codrington awaits trial, the family and friends of Malik Muhammad are left to mourn the loss of a man who was a father, a son, and a creative spirit behind the lens. A funeral service was held for him on September 12 at the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home in Queens. The case against Sergio Codrington is currently pending in the legal system.
