A violent afternoon shooting in East New York, Brooklyn, has left one twin brother dead and another injured, while police continue to search for the gunman who fled the scene.
The shooting happened around 2:40 p.m. Thursday near the corner of Sutter and Euclid Avenues, according to the NYPD. Responding officers found two 20-year-old men with gunshot wounds.
Victims Identified
The Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Darius Coles, 20, of Brooklyn, was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center.
His twin brother, whose name has not been released, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and a graze wound to the head. He was also taken to Brookdale, where he remains in stable condition, police said.
The siblings were described by neighbors as inseparable. “They were always together — you never saw one without the other,” said a longtime resident. “This is heartbreaking.”
The Gunman’s Escape
Police sources said the suspected gunman fled east on Sutter Avenue on foot. He was last seen wearing a red tracksuit, white shoes, and a white shirt.
Multiple shell casings and a box cutter were recovered from the scene, though investigators have not confirmed whether the weapon used in the shooting has been located.
So far, no arrests have been made, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
A Neighborhood on Edge
The shooting adds to a string of violent incidents in East New York, a neighborhood that has long struggled with gun violence.
“Every time you think it’s calming down, something like this happens,” said a local shop owner. “Now a family has lost a son, and a brother is fighting for his life.”
Thursday’s shooting came less than a week after an unrelated incident uptown, when an 18-year-old was arrested by federal agents and NYPD officers in connection with the Aug. 27 killing of 27-year-old Robin Wright, who was struck by an errant bullet in East Harlem.
Police Investigation
Detectives are piecing together what led to the shooting of the Coles brothers. It is not yet clear whether the attack was targeted or random.
The NYPD’s homicide unit has been canvassing the area, reviewing surveillance footage, and interviewing witnesses. Community members said the intersection where the shooting occurred is often busy in the afternoon, raising concerns about public safety.
Community Reaction
Friends and relatives of the Coles family gathered outside the hospital Thursday evening, devastated by the loss of Darius. “He was only 20 years old,” one relative said. “He had his whole life ahead of him.”
Local activists have renewed calls for gun violence prevention programs, stressing the need for resources in neighborhoods like East New York. “This is not just about crime statistics — these are families being torn apart,” one community leader said.
Moving Forward
As police continue their manhunt, the community is bracing for more details. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the shooter’s identity or whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
For now, one family is left to mourn the loss of a young man while praying for his brother’s recovery — and a neighborhood already familiar with violence is once again living in fear.
