Posted to Crime on
The Wall Street Journal

Kurton Grant was shot and killed Thursday on Kingston Avenue and Maple Street.

Kurton Grant was a typical teenager.

He was addicted to his PlayStation videogame. He loved dancing and music, particularly reggae, more popular in his native Trinidad, and hip-hop, which is favored in Flatbush where he moved in 2006.

Teen Shot and Killed in Crown Heights

The Wall Street Journal

Kurton Grant was shot and killed Thursday on Kingston Avenue and Maple Street.

Kurton Grant was a typical teenager.

He was addicted to his PlayStation videogame. He loved dancing and music, particularly reggae, more popular in his native Trinidad, and hip-hop, which is favored in Flatbush where he moved in 2006.

He “tweeted” with his friends using Twitter slang. He only dressed in certain brand-name clothes like Aéropostale, H&M and Levi’s and in the mornings would take an hour or longer primping and getting ready before heading off to Transit Technical High School.

“He loved to look nice,” said his sister Kelisha Grant, 24 years old.

On Thursday afternoon, Mr. Grant, 16, was doing another typical teenager thing, playing basketball, with 15-year-old Khari Morris and hanging out with other friends at the courts at Maple Street and Kingston Avenue.

Police say that just after 5 p.m. a group of young men approached Mr. Grant and his friends. Words were exchanged, a gun pulled out and shots fired, police said. Mr. Grant was struck once in the chest. Another bullet hit Mr. Morris in the back as he tried to flee. Both teens were taken to Kings County Hospital. Mr. Grant died shortly after arriving there, and Mr. Morris was in stable condition on Friday.

A day after the double shooting, police can only say it appears the shooting was the result of an “ongoing dispute” but the details are still fuzzy about the nature of the beef.

Merlyn George, Mr. Grant’s 45-year-old mother, said she moved her daughter and son from Trinidad to Brooklyn “to give them a better life.” And until Thursday, it was a better life here, she said.

Both his mother and sister said they can’t imagine why anyone would target Mr. Grant and his friend for death.

Unlike a lot of teenagers, Mr. Grant liked going to school, where his favorite subjects were math and science, the mother said. He had made up his mind at this early age that he wanted to work as an electrician for the subway system and that’s why he had chosen to attend Transit Tech, his mother said.

He had nice friends, the sister said, not the kind of children who caused trouble, including Mr. Morris whom Ms. Grant described as “also a nice guy, humble.” Mr. Grant was devoted to his family, especially Ms. George, who says she’s going to miss her son calling her on the phone saying, “ ‘Mom, my beautiful mom. I love you, mom,’ ” as he often did.

“Oh my God, he’s so funny,” the mother said Friday still describing her son in the present. “Such a funny child.”

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49 Comments

  • Sruly

    We have to stand up and make a big deal about this MY GOD THIS IS NOW THE HEART OF CROWN HEIGHTS MAPLE AND KINGSTON!!!!!!!!

    If this can happen to a non Jew etc……

    Lets get together and help his family.

  • mother in ch

    oye! They should catch his killer and put him in jail for life! Why should our children be targets!

  • Don-t call me to the lineup

    OMG!!! We were at Maple St shul doing Tashlich when we “took cover”. We heard several shots but figured they were just shots in the air as we didn’t hear any sirens immediately after. It became apparent that it was a real shooting as we walked up Albany and saw cops cruising & looking. We actually passed a pretty suspicious looking fellow who unnaturally had his hand in his pocket. He took one hand out but not the other. It looked forced.

  • shocked

    And we are soooooooo safe in CH, aren’t we? I am so sorry to hear of this, but I’m so thankful there were no Yidden caught up in this tragedy.

    I thought the helicopters were to protect us for RH…HA! I hardly saw a cop & I davenned at 770, walking from Crown.

  • diologue

    humbly there should be some reaction from the community to number show that we are worried for all our safety

    and 2 united we stand divided we fall

    we would be a better more secure community if we showed solidarity with our friends from the carribean

  • Shocked

    I agree, we need to show support to this family and make a big shturem about this. Rachmana Latzlon, this happened on Kingston avenue and maple!! do you have any idea how many yidden pass by this spot at 6 pm on a yom tov/shabbos? Kids going back and forth to friends houses fathers and sons walking to mincha, women coming back from shiurim … it’s a nais there wasnt a yid walking by when this happened. It’s terrible that this young man died, we must take this seriously!!!

  • maple street resident

    To # 8 …This happened on a busy jewish block and the argument began at lefferts park both areas full of jews and there were several jews feet away from the shooting , so why should this not be posted on our sight? the danger is real for everyone out there!!!

  • Martin Niemoller

    To #8:

    “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out.

    Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out.

    Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out.

    And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

  • daddy d

    to #8

    with all due respect just crawl back into your self centered little 4×4 safe zone.

  • to number 8

    my jaw dropped when i read your comment.
    A teenage boy died in crown heights and it should just go ignored? Why sholdn’t it go on this website? because this TEENAGER wasn’t jewish ? thats why it doesn’t matter if he died? your sick.

  • Time for BP vests

    Just like requiring helmets for bikes and seat belts for cars they should require bullet proof vests on streets and public areas.

    It’s a sad state of affairs but we have come to this.

  • to # 8

    what do u mean who cares? just bacause he not a jew doesnt mean that he doesnt count? how come even a kid knows that but not an adult? what type of example are u setting for the kds of crown heights? how is the fighting ever going to stop if u encourage it? and its on a c h site cause it happened in c h and cause ppl should know whats going on for safety reasons

  • no way!

    i was there! we were doing tashlich and heard gunshots! and then we were gonna walk up kingston but decided to take albany instead. what hashgacha protis that we didnt!!

  • rbf

    wmfh he died rite in fronna all ov us uncludin me smfh i was rite there he died rite in my arms

  • Chaim

    to # 15
    who said number 8 is an adult?
    plenty of kids write comments on this site all the time.
    it must have been a eight year old :)

  • your bestfriend

    i am going to miss u so much kurton we had great times in winthropis232 school and

  • Sad in Crown heights ;-(

    this is so upsetting.
    such a young life to be taken.

    may the murderers be punished for the evil!

  • TG for cameras

    We all need to get cameras and all should know they are being watched. If aone knows which way the perps headed he should tell police.

  • stop crime

    there are nice, innocent and decent people out there, its so horrible to think that they are fighting crime and suffering.
    this is just tragic and painful. I can’t imagine any loving family G-d forbid, losing a loved one…..

  • Hmmm

    why shouldnt this bee posted smtt your soo bad mind , anyway R.I.P Kurton You will for ever bee missed #truesay !

  • :-(Love One Of Your Ex :-*

    omg i cant believe he’s really gone ILY N IMY Kurton aka Crizzy woo0oow(Tears)….I Have So Much More Tew say uggh

  • To Kurton-s friends

    Welcome to all of Kurton’s friends. We are all sorry for your loss.
    Do you know if there are any memorials or marches being planned in his honor?

  • to # 8

    the title of this website is crown heights info your news and info center. thats all ch news not just Jewish news

  • al..h

    i know him, he was in some of my classes. i never thought dis woud ov happen to him. very very sad. RIP KURT

  • TRiNi JOY

    R.I.P. Kurton even thouqh ii dont know yu may ur soul R.I.P. and my condolences to ur ENTIRE family…the pain is sooo gut wrenching for this caribbean mom cuz they work so hard for a BETTER future for their kids. Thank yu sooo much to the good citizen that gave the NYPD the video cuz tingz like this need to be known and acknowledge

  • TRiNi JOY

    R.I.P. Kurton even thouqh ii dont know yu may ur soul R.I.P. and my condolences to ur ENTIRE family…the pain is sooo gut wrenching for this caribbean mom cuz they work so hard for a BETTER future for their kids. Thank yu sooo much to the good citizen that gave the NYPD the video cuz tingz like this need to be known and acknowledge

  • preetyface

    SO SAD I LIVED IN CH FOR A LONG TIME AND NEVER REALLY HEARD OFF SUCH SHOOTINGS THIS IS JUST SO SAD I HAVE A SON HIS AGE I COULD ONLY EMAGAIN WAT HIS MOTHER IS GOIN THOUGH. RIP LIL SOUL..

  • Liba

    We are all G-ds children. Lets pray for the safety of all the children of the world. May no mother have to go through such sorrow again & May Kurtons family be comforted.

  • gtgirl5

    I myslef has lived in CH for over fifteen years. i have a son just about his age. lets all get together and pray for our children’s safety. May God comfort his family in this time of sorry. I did not know this young man but from what i’ve read he seems to loved by all. May you rest in peace.

  • scared out of my wits!

    this happenrd on my block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im petrafied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! poloce need to watch out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • teacher

    only the good die young i’ve red all the comments and to tell you the truth this kidd was the most loving kid that i know he will give his heart to any one who needs it his sister will miss him a whole lot to his mother and father be strong and let god do what he have to do have faith.

  • Dr. D.

    So very sad,I am not speaking of the obvious; about a young man being murdered. I am talking about how it further divides our community. As this is the month of Elul, we should strive to learn how we can grow from such a tragic event. Perhaps, we as a community should do our best to live by example and demonstrate how one can truly “Do on to others as one would want done to themselves”. By loving and acting kind to others. We must remember that behavior is learned. We must provide the correct stimulus. L’shana Tova

  • jillian smith

    hi i just wan t to send my love to the family from my family here in trinidad the smith family god is good

  • Pissed Off

    R.ii.P Kurton Grant … Yu Were A Great And Amazinq Person …
    When i Found Outt it Was Shockiinq .. To The People in the video who walked away and didnt do nothinq at all when you could of diod suomthinq shame on you

  • KURTON GRANT LOVER AND CLOSE FRIEND

    LOVE YUH KURTON A.K.A CRIZZY.. YUH WIILL ALWAYS BE MISSED… BUT IT STILL FEELS LIKE YUH ARE NOT GONE….MISS ALL THE FUNNY THINGS YUH USED TO SAY HOW YUH WOULD ALWAYS LAUGH WEN I SAY SOMETHIN THAT DONT MAKE SENSE… LOVE YUH KURTON GRANT!… R.I.P…..

  • Rob.

    Smh. We all miss you Kurton. Hope you’re up in heaven with the angels looking over us. Love you bro, Robby.