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19-year-old Brooklyn public school employee shot and killed, suspect arrested
By
Phil Corso
Published Oct 11, 2022
Modified Oct 13, 2022
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By
Phil Corso
Published Oct 11, 2022
Modified Oct 13, 2022
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A 19-year-old city Department of Education employee was shot in the head near a south Brooklyn school on Tuesday, officials said. He was later pronounced dead, according to police.
Police responded to a call of a person shot in front of 5002 Avenue M near P.S. 203 Floyd Bennett School around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, the NYPD said. Officers encountered the 19-year-old male, later identified as Ethan Holder, with a gunshot wound to the head before bringing him to Brookdale Hospital, where he died from his injuries on Wednesday.
Holder worked at the school as a teacher’s assistant, the New York Daily News reported, and was leaving the school and heading to a deli when he was hit by at least three of four shots fired. The Daily News also reported that police believed he was the intended target of the shooting.
Schools Chancellor David C. Banks confirmed the shooting in a tweet on Tuesday.
"I am absolutely heartbroken and outraged that one of our dedicated employees was senselessly made victim to random gun violence in southern Brooklyn this afternoon," Banks said. "Our educators, our students, and our families deserve better than living with the threat of gun violence."
The chancellor said he was in contact with the NYPD as well as the staff at P.S. 203 to increase security around the school and would be coordinating counseling services for students who need it.
On Wednesday, police announced they had arrested Javier Oates, 19, of Brooklyn. He was charged with murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal use of a firearm.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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brooklyn
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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