The shooting happened at 456 Lafayette Avenue around 5:20 p.m. in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, police said.
Police said a 32-year-old man was shot in the head and was pronounced dead.
A 26-year-old was shot in the abdomen and shoulder and a 33-year-old was shot in the torso, police said.
They were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
One of the victims was pronounced dead, and the other two were taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Police are searching for a suspect wearing all black who fled on foot.
Terrie Little's 11-year-old son was innocently coming home from school when he walked into the aftermath of the fatal shooting at Lafayette Gardens Public House on Monday.
"He said there was 20 cops outside, 20 ambulances. He didn't know what was going on at all. My husband was like get inside, lock the door. We were on the Q train on the way here," resident Terry Little said.
Police believe the gunman was standing on the edge of the playground when they opened fire.
3 men in the middle of the play space were struck.
The Littles say they are making plans to protect their son in middle school so he doesn't have to come home alone anymore.
"We are literally trying our best to leave here because of things like this. Truly and utterly terrifying," Little said.
Thankfully, no children were outside playing at the time of the shooting.
Police are still investigating the motive.
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