What to Know
- Alastasia Bryan, 25, was shot to death as she sat in her car in Brooklyn Sunday night — she was heading to her job as a correction officer
- On Monday night, friends and family, including Bryan's mother, were at a vigil for her
- Mourners vowed to find the gunman, who police say targeted Bryan for unknown reasons
Police continued to search for clues Monday as friends, neighbors and family mourned a 25-year-old city correction officer who was gunned down as she sat in her car in Brooklyn.
Alastasia Bryan, known as Stacey, was on her way to work, just steps from her mother’s house in the Flatlands, when a man came up and fired into the vehicle. Police said she was shot multiple times in the head and torso, and pronounced dead at the scene.
At a glowing memorial where the rookie correction officer was shot, mourners, many of them fellow correction officers themselves, prayed and held candles.
Bryan’s mother was silent but composed as she clutched a single candle for the vigil of her slain daughter. She was one of the first people to hear the shots and went outside to find her daughter gravely injured. Her pastor said what she couldn't.
“We thank you for the life of Stacey — 25 years. Though so young, we thank you for her life,” the pastor said.
Bryan was just one month on the job when she was gunned down.
“She was on her way to do what? Protect the public. She was on her way to work,” said Elias Husamudeen, head of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association.
Police say her killer was lying in wait near Avenue L and 73rd Street. He got out of his car, walked up to her driver’s side window and fired five times before driving off.
Police believe it was a targeted killing, but a motive is unknown.
At the emotional gathering Monday night, sadness was mixed with frustration at what the mourners view as a double standard for the treatment of NYPD and city correction officers. They say the family has received a phone call from Mayor de Blasio, not an in-person visit.
“Where was the mayor? He had a press conference for the officer who got pushed,” correction officer Yesenia Santiago said. “But an officer got assassinated right here.”
In a statement Monday, de Blasio extended his condolences and said, "The NYPD is working aggressively to find the person responsible for this heinous act and will maintain its pursuit until they are brought to justice.”
Tonight DOC suffered a tragic loss when an off duty officer was fatally shot. Our thoughts are w/the officer family, friends & colleagues.
— NYC DOC (@CorrectionNYC) December 5, 2016
Fellow correction officers echoed that statement.
“Today is our sad day, but your sad day will come because you will be brought to justice,” one man said.
"Our hearts go out to the fam of off duty CO who was shot and killed tonight. We will not rest until assailant is brought to justice." EH
— COBA (@NYCCOBA1) December 5, 2016
The Correction Officers Benevolent Association said there is a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
