Crown Heights’ 80-Day Violence-Free Streak Has Ended
These past few days have been truly lovely weather-wise. But if you believe the theory that warmer weather begets more violence, then this past week was a particularly illustrative one, especially for Crown Heights. After 80 violence-free days, a massive section of the neighborhood saw its first shooting death.
According to DNAinfo, it was the shooting and killing of 37-year-old father Todd Edward Wilks that put an end to the string of peaceful days. On Thursday night, Wilks was found outside a liquor store on Albany Avenue with multiple shots to the torso. The death has been ruled a homicide by the Medical Examiner’s office.
Crown Heights residents familiar with the victim say the shooting occurred following a minor disagreement over a car.
Local anti-violence group, Save Our Streets Crown Heights, told DNAinfo that Wilks’ death was the first incident of gun violence to occur in the 40-block area from Kingston Avenue east to Utica Avenue and from Atlantic Avenue south to Eastern Parkway that they patrol. So, tonight, S.O.S. Crown Heights will host an anti-gun violence rally at 7 p.m. at the site of the shooting, which took place at the corner of Albany Avenue and St. Johns Place.
Wilks shooting was the ninth to occur in the 77th Precinct this year, which includes Crown Heights, Prospect Heights and Weeksville. So far, it appears that no arrests have been made.
Follow Nikita Richardson on Twitter @nikitarbk