July 4, 2026 Coney Island Barbecue Shooting Injures Eight, Including Four Children

At about 10:35 p.m. on July 4, 2026, an unidentified man in all-black clothing and a ski mask fired into a family barbecue courtyard at 2929 West 31st St., near Surf Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Police recovered a TEC-9-style gun with an extended magazine and ten shell casings. Eight people were shot: four children (ages 6, 7, 12, 14) and four adults, including a 21-year-old woman in critical condition.

WPIX 11

The incident occurred on the same block where a gang-related homicide was recorded earlier that week, prompting investigators to examine a possible link. Citywide, the Fourth of July saw at least twelve people shot across Queens, the Bronx, East Harlem, and a separate Crown Heights incident that wounded a police detective.

Newsweek

Children injured were a 6-year-old (abdomen), a 7-year-old (both legs), a 12-year-old (leg) and a 14-year-old (thigh). Adult victims included a 21-year-old woman (chest, critical), a 25-year-old woman (leg), a 33-year-old man (chest) and a 37-year-old man (shoulder); some reports also note a 47-year-old man (shoulder). The recovered firearm was a TEC-9-style gun with an extended magazine.

Children Among 8 Shot in Coney Island Fourth of July Shooting

Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the shooting, stating that violence has no place in New York City and pledging an “all-of-government” public-safety response. Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the act a random gunfire incident, noted no prior altercation, and said investigators are probing a link to the earlier homicide.

Mediaite

Residents voiced outrage and urged city officials to address the root causes of gun violence and protect public gatherings.

AM New York

Coney Island resident Nsowaa Stewart described the scene as “horrible,” noting scattered bicycles, children’s toys, and a sense that the neighborhood felt “unrecognizable” after the shooting.

‘You See Bikes, You See Children’s Toys’: Coney Island Resident Speaks Out After Gunfire Tears Through Family Barbecue on July 4

Reports list the shooting time as 10:35 p.m., 10:37 p.m., or 10:40 p.m., and differ on whether a 47-year-old man was among the adult victims. The shooter’s identity, number of gunmen, and motive remain unknown.

AM New York

• “There is no place for this kind of violence in our city. We will not tolerate it. We will fight it with every single tool at our disposal.” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

Mediaite

• “There is no indication at this time that there was any argument or altercation at the barbecue before the shooting occurred,” — Jessica Tisch, NYPD Commissioner

NBC News

• “If you go by there, you see bikes, you see children’s toys. It’s horrible to walk by there.” — Nsowaa Stewart, Coney Island resident

‘You See Bikes, You See Children’s Toys’: Coney Island Resident Speaks Out After Gunfire Tears Through Family Barbecue on July 4

• “We’re one of the best places here in New York. It was never like this. We have to take charge.” — Nsowaa Stewart, Coney Island resident

‘You See Bikes, You See Children’s Toys’: Coney Island Resident Speaks Out After Gunfire Tears Through Family Barbecue on July 4

NYPD detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and forensic evidence while seeking public tips. Police have not ruled out a link to the earlier gang homicide. Mayor Mamdani said the administration will reassess its public-safety strategy before the next city council session.

Mediaite