By Tiffany Williams –
CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. — A Fourth of July family barbecue packed with approximately 50 people erupted into gunfire when two Brooklyn men allegedly approached a residential courtyard and unleashed an attack that left eight people wounded, including four children. A 10-week-old puppy belonging to the youngest victim was shot in the head and killed.
Robert Smith, 44, and Kevin Blunt, 44, both of Coney Island, have been charged together in an 88-count indictment with attempted murder, assault, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, among other charges, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
The shooting happened at approximately 10:30 p.m. July 4 near Surf Avenue and West 30th Street in Coney Island.
Approximately 50 people had gathered in the courtyard of a residential building for a family barbecue when prosecutors allege Smith and Blunt approached.
Authorities allege Smith attempted to fire into the barbecue, but the gun appeared to jam. Prosecutors say Blunt then helped clear the weapon, allowing Smith to fire approximately 15 shots into the crowd.
Eight people were hit.
Four of them were children — boys ages six, seven, 12 and 14. Four adults, ages 21, 25, 33 and 37, were also struck.
The victims were rushed to local hospitals. A 21-year-old woman was initially listed in critical condition, while the remaining victims were listed in stable condition.
The violence also killed Sky, a 10-week-old puppy belonging to the six-year-old victim. The puppy was shot in the head.
“These defendants are allegedly responsible for unleashing a barrage of gunfire into a courtyard packed with families celebrating the Fourth of July, striking eight people—including four children—and killing a six-year-old boy’s puppy. The fact that no person was killed is extraordinary, but it does not diminish the alleged recklessness and brutality of this attack. We will now seek to hold both defendants fully accountable for the devastation they are accused of causing,” Gonzalez said.
Investigators say surveillance footage allegedly captured the shooting along with the defendants’ actions before, during and after the attack.
Smith was apprehended by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 8 in the confines of the NYPD’s 60th Precinct. Blunt was subsequently apprehended by the same task force in the confines of the 84th Precinct.
Both men were ordered held without bail.
Smith was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14. Blunt was arraigned Aug. 3 before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin and is scheduled to return to court Aug. 19.
Brooklyn prosecutors credited Detective Omar Santiago of the Brooklyn South Video Team and Detective Andrew Noto of the 60th Precinct Detective Squad for their assistance in the investigation.
The charges are allegations. Smith and Blunt have not been convicted of the crimes charged in the indictment.