Man fatally shot at Target store in Downtown Brooklyn
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN (WABC) -- Police said a man was fatally shot at a Downtown Brooklyn Target store Wednesday.
It happened next to the Target inside the City Point shopping center on Albee Square West around 11:15 p.m.
Authorities said four men, including the victim, were following and harassing the 44-year-old gunman before the shooting.
He ducked into the shopping complex to get away, but the group followed him, police said. At least two were allegedly brandishing knives.
They advanced on the man, police said, and he turned around and opened fire. One of the men, 25-year-old Carlton Spencer, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
The gunman fled the scene and handed the gun off to a 26-year-old man, police said, who threw it away. Police were able to catch up with both men and take them into custody.
The three other men were also taken into custody. The gun was later recovered.
Police said the man who was fatally shot is affiliated with a gang and has multiple prior arrests.
Detectives are looking into the background of the gunman, but are preliminarily treating the shooting as the result of possible gang activity.
Witnesses said it was a chaotic scene, with people dropping their shopping baskets and running outside.
No shoppers or employees were hurt.
Target issued the following statement:
"Our security team immediately called law enforcement, who responded within seconds, and focused on keeping our guests and team members safe. Once the NYPD were on site, our security team worked on evacuating the store. We've provided the NYPD with security footage to help with their investigation and will continue to keep the store closed today at their request. We'll reopen the store as soon as we safely can. Target appreciates the quick response of the NYPD and we send our deepest condolences to the victim and his family."
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