Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Homeless Mainstay Of Clinton Hill Fatally Shot
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 15, 2014
Modified Mar 15, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Mar 15, 2014
Modified Mar 15, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A homeless local Clinton Hill personality who was once profiled by the NY Times was fatally shot last night. According to cops, 65-year-old Gilbert Kelly was shot around 4:20 a.m. on Grand Street near Attorney Street. He was taken to Brooklyn Hospital with a gunshot wound to the torso, and was declared dead. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
According to Brownstoner, Kelly was killed on one of the mid-block stoops where he spent most of his nights for the past three decades. They write:
Many of us paid him a small monthly stipend to keep our stoops clean, make sure our recycling was sorted correctly and let us know if any suspicious characters had been lurking around our homes. Countless nights his crooning of Motown classics while he cleaned up the block was the last thing many of us heard before falling asleep.
Back in 2011, Kelly, who lived in Clinton Hill since 1984, was profiled by the Times. Kelly spent six years in prison on a felony drug conviction in the 1990s, but dedicated himself to cleaning the street when he got out: "This is my high," Kelly said. "When I can look down the street and see no dirt on the whole thing - this is my high." He loved the neighborhood so much, he made up a song about it: "It’s the Grand, the greatest place in this divine land/We’re not just a block or a neighborhood, we’re a family."
Tagged
clinton hill
cops
gilbert kelly
homeless
nypd
shooting
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
Nearly 1 million in the city risk losing benefits as a result of new federal restrictions.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
A 26-year-old died after being shot on the platform at the Midtown station. Commuters are rattled.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
These are the NYC neighborhoods that will get free 2-K next fall
By
Karen Yi
Early Addition: Get to know Wanda, the donkey in the Met's 'La Bohème'
By
James Ramsay
Eric Adams' NYC buildings boss Eric Ulrich heads to trial, 3 years after arrest
By
David Brand
and
Samantha Max
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .