What to Know
- A 16-year-old boy playing basketball at a Brooklyn playground just after school let out was shot in the head and died, police say
- The teen, Timothy Oyebola of Queens, is not believed to have been the intended target, police say
- "He was a really good kid," said NYPD Chief Michael Kemper. "This is a very unfortunate act."
A 16-year-old boy has died after he was shot in the head while playing basketball at a Brooklyn playground just after school let out Friday, and police say it appears he wasn't the intended target.
The teen is believed to have been an innocent bystander when he was shot on the basketball court behind P.S. 396 in Brownsville, just a few minutes after school let out, according to police.
The teen, identified as Timothy Oyebola of Queens, was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
James Moultre of Brownsville Community Justice Center said he knew Oyebola: "He's a very powerful young man," he said.
"He was a really good kid," added NYPD Chief Michael Kemper. "This is a very unfortunate act."
Two men were seen fleeing the scene on Chester Street after firing the shots from about 150 feet away. Police said it's possible one of the other three teens playing basketball was the intended target, but they're still working to figure out a motive.
Local
"It's sad, it's devastating," said Prince Mapp of Brownsville. "To live in a neighborhood where kids cannot even come to the park -- there's a church here, pedestrians right there, shopping area on the corner. It's terrible."
Police were still investigating Friday night, interviewing witnesses and collecting video surveillance.
