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NYPD searching for man who stabbed woman to death in Brooklyn park
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 18, 2026
Modified Aug 18, 2026
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Brittany Kriegstein Gothamist
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Brittany Kriegstein
Published Aug 18, 2026
Modified Aug 18, 2026
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A woman was fatally stabbed in a Brooklyn park overnight, and police said they were still looking for the perpetrator early Tuesday.
NYPD officials said the incident happened around 12:41 a.m. in Lincoln Terrace/Arthur S. Somers Park, which sits at the border of Crown Heights, Brownsville and East Flatbush.
Officers responded to a 911 call about an assault and arrived to find a 30-year-old woman, later identified as Shakeema Davis, with multiple stab wounds throughout her body. EMS workers took her to Brookdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said Davis was stabbed after some kind of dispute. They were looking for a shirtless man wearing gray sweatpants who fled northbound on foot on Rochester Avenue.
On Tuesday morning, a swath of the park along Buffalo Avenue near Eastern Parkway was cordoned off with crime scene tape. Detectives investigated an area near several park benches that was littered with scattered belongings — including an overturned black wagon, several bags, a slipper and other items.
Simcha Adel said he’s been coming to the park nearly every day for decades and was surprised to hear that someone had been killed.
“Back in the ‘70s, it was really rough… It's toned down a lot. But, you know, it’s still New York, it’s still Brooklyn. Stuff can happen,” he said. “It’s upsetting, but it’s not going to stop me from coming to the park.”
Luis Martinez lives a few blocks from the park and said he’s never seen any violence when he comes to play tennis across the street.
“People have their cookouts, they normally exercise or ride their bikes, or rollerblading or having conversations or whatever,” he said. “It shocked me… normally people get along and have a good time.”
The incident was the first murder of the year in the 77th Precinct, which includes Crown Heights and parts of Prospect Heights. By this time last year, there had been four murders in the precinct, police data shows.
However, it happened less than a mile away from a shooting outside a bar on Bergen Street and Howard Avenue that killed another woman, identified as 33-year-old Sofronie Hartzog, early Sunday morning.
Police said they were still looking for the person who opened fire on the crowd that had gathered outside Ooh La la Lounge and Bar after 2 a.m., fatally striking Hartzog and also wounding a 34-year-old man.
This story has been updated with new information.
Tagged
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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