Suspect in custody in Brooklyn shooting of four teens at Marcy Houses

Detectives investigate the scene at Marcy Houses where four teens were shot. Plastic cups behind police indicate where shell casings fell during the shooting.
Credit: Jeremy Sparig

Police have a suspect in custody in the shooting of four teenage boys at the Marcy Houses in Brooklyn Saturday evening. The alleged shooter has not yet been charged.

The eldest victim, 18-year-old Mario Lopez, was shot multiple times, cops said. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Woodhull Hospital a little before 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

Police reported that the other three victims were 13, 14 and 15 years old. They were shot in the neck, right knee and left thigh respectively. The 13-year-old was taken to the hospital in critical condition; the other two were classified as serious, cops said.

Police said nine shell casings were found at the scene.

By Sunday morning, a couple dozen candles had been placed outside Lopez’s building in the Bushwick Houses. Friends and neighbors described him as “a good kid” who was always riding his bike and cracking jokes.

Candles in the window of 18-year-old shooting victim Mario Lopez’ building in the Bushwick Houses.
Credit: Danielle Tcholakian/Metro

Lopez was reportedly at the Marcy Houses for a basketball tournament organized for local youth. Friends said he was there to support the 13- and 14-year-old boys, who were going to compete in the tournament. Lopez reportedly often hung out with the two younger boys, acting as an older brother figure to them.

Police said they were hanging out outside a building a few hundred yards from the basketball court when the alleged shooter fired on them, then fled the scene.

The younger boys had rap sheets with a handful of prior low-level arrests. Lopez and the 15-year-old victim had no criminal records.

The suspect was apprehended inside 77 Tompkins Avenue Sunday morning, cops said.

Police said they believe the shooting was gang-related. According to cops, all of the victims were members of the Young Stackers crew, and the alleged shooter is connected to the Tompkins Get Money crew.

Cops said the suspect in custody was identified by witnesses who were brought back to the precinct house and shown a “set book,” a collection of mugshots police have of known gang members.