Brooklyn, NY — A mass shooting erupted early Sunday inside the Taste of the City Lounge in Crown Heights, leaving three people dead and nine others wounded in what officials are calling one of New York City’s deadliest shootings of 2025.
The gunfire broke out shortly before 3:30 a.m. after an argument escalated inside the packed nightclub. Investigators believe as many as four shooters were involved.
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“This was a tragic, senseless act of violence,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press briefing. “We recovered at least 42 shell casings from 9 mm and .45-caliber weapons, and our detectives are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”
Victims Identified
Among the dead was Ariela “La Langosta” Lalangosta, a 27-year-old Dominican bartender and well-known nightlife figure in Brooklyn. She was widely recognized in the community and on social media under the handle @ariiela.lalangosta.
Two other victims — a 19-year-old man who died at the scene and a 35-year-old man who later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital — were also killed.
Nine others, ranging in age from 19 to 61, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Rumors and Ongoing Investigation
Speculation has spread that Ariela may have been targeted for allegedly providing information about a local criminal figure, though police have not confirmed this claim. Authorities stressed that such rumors remain unverified.
Meanwhile, Nata Cartier, identified by some as Ariela’s romantic partner, was detained for questioning. Investigators are exploring whether Cartier was the intended target. Sources said Ariela may have been struck while with him, though Cartier was not injured.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday evening. Police are urging anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers line at 800-577-TIPS.
Community Response
Mayor Eric Adams condemned the shooting, calling it the city’s second mass killing in recent weeks, following the July 29 Manhattan attack that left four people dead, including an NYPD officer.
“This is the second within weeks, and we don’t want this to become the new normal in our city,” Adams said. “These tragedies remind us why we fight every day to get illegal guns off our streets.”
Crisis response teams have been deployed in Crown Heights to support families of the victims and to prevent possible retaliation.
Evidence and Scene
Police said a firearm was recovered on a nearby street in addition to dozens of shell casings inside the lounge. Video from the aftermath shows shattered glass on the driver’s side of a vehicle linked to the victims, raising further questions about what unfolded outside the nightclub.
Despite the shooting, officials emphasized that overall gun violence in New York remains historically low.
“This is not the direction our city is going,” Tisch said. “We will get to the bottom of what happened here.”
📞 Anyone with information is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.