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1-Year-Old Child Shot Dead in Brownsville

A 1-year-old boy was killed by a bullet in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Brownsville, neighboring Crown Heights to the southeast.

From the NY Daily News:

Antiq Hennis was nestled in his stroller Sunday night, just inches from his parents, when the shot pierced his head just a block from the family’s Riverdale Ave. home, cops and witnesses said.

The child’s father — the intended target, according to law enforcement sources and family members — was unharmed but distraught after the bullets started flying at Bristol St. near Livonia Ave. in Brownsville at 7:20 p.m.

“He was screaming ‘My baby got shot.’ He was going crazy,” said Gina Gamboa, 22, who saw the dad seconds after Antiq was mortally wounded. “The baby was breathing, but his eyes were closed. It’s crazy. They just will start shooting.”

At least four shots rang out. The tragic tot was the only person hit.

Little Antiq was rushed to Brookdale University Hospital with a bullet hole in the left side of his head, cops said.

He died at the hospital shortly before 9 p.m.

“He just started walking. He was vibrant. He was full of life,” said the baby’s great-uncle, Chris Dobson. “I can’t believe it.”

The relative said that Antiq’s parents, who hail from Trinidad, celebrated their son’s first birthday in May. He said it was the father, who has a record of more than 20 arrests, who was in the gunman’s crosshairs.

“They shot at him and ended up shooting the baby,” Dobson said.

Detectives believe the shooting was payback for an earlier dispute, according to sources.

Another source said the dad dashed away from the stroller to draw the gunfire from his son.

Bishop Willie Billips, a local anti-violence activist, was with the parents as they made the gut-wrenching official identification of their lifeless child.

“I’m furious about what I’ve just seen. I’m outraged,” Billips said. “A 1-year-old baby lying on the bed? It’s horrible.”

There was little solace he could offer to the family, Billips added.

“What do you say? It brought me to tears. To see young parents suffer — for what?”

No arrests had been made as of late Sunday, police said.

But a source in the Brownsville community said the shooter’s street name has been given to cops.

Antiq is the 16th victim under the age of 16 to be shot on city streets since mid-May, and he is the second child to die, according to a Daily News review.

The boy’s grieving parents were hunkered down in their home late Sunday.

“The family is shocked and devastated,” Councilman Charles Barron said after comforting the bereft couple. “The child didn’t even get a chance to start his life, and now it’s over.”

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14 Comments

  • Welcome to Labor Day

    Whatever the “reason” it is a horrible tragedy but not unexpected amongst these low lifes. Shooting each other is normal. Stop & frisk? Can’t do that, it’s racial profiling.

  • we need stop and frisk

    Where is Sharpton? A black kid was shot! Tell Sharpton to get down here ASAP to lead a “no justice, no peace” demonstration!
    Oh sorry, the shooter was also black so no need for Sharpton to show up.

  • the baby's father ....

    With a record of more than 20 arrests, the father should have been locked up and very far away from innocent babies.
    Why bother with arrests if the perps are constantly allowed to commit more mayhem on our streets?
    We need to bring back 3 strikes and you’re in for life!

  • so sad!

    that is terriable no parent should have to go through somEthing like that moshiach should be here already!
    where is he??
    MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!!!!!

  • .

    to # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7……..
    ITS SAD ALL THE SSAME!!!!
    ur all just being racist black white oriental………. THEIR HUMAN!!!
    its one less child in this world to grow up to (hopefully) be a great parent and grandparent…… thats a whole generation lost in a second

  • jewish dude

    Hundred procent abnormal anywhere else. But this is crimeheights so it is totally normal. We need more shomrim to prevent this.

  • Don't Worry

    I agree number 9. The Rebbe loved every human being regardless of race, religion or creed. A loss of human life is tragic, Jewish or not. Please don’t minimalize this tragedy just because the poor victim and his family happen to be non Jews.

  • Animal Complaint

    When I worked for the city, 2 decades ago, an African co-worker- she made the following complaint:

    “I used to work for the Jewish National Fund. Over
    their, they treated me nice and respectfully. You
    orthodox, you call us animals!”