BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors have charged a 25-year-old alleged gang member for his role in a deadly mass shooting at a crowded Brooklyn bar this summer, releasing security footage for the first time that shows the chaotic gunfight.
Elijah Roy was arrested last week in North Carolina and was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday, charged with violent assault in aid of racketeering and illegal possession of ammunition. The shooting on August 17 at the Taste of City Lounge in Crown Heights left three people dead and ten others wounded.
A Rivalry Erupts into Violence
According to the criminal complaint, the incident was the result of a violent clash between two rival street gangs. Prosecutors identified Roy and one of the deceased, 19-year-old Marvin St. Louis, as members of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods gang. The other deceased shooter, 35-year-old Jamel Childs, was identified as a member of the rival Folk Nation Gangster Disciples.
The newly released security video shows the densely-packed club erupting into chaos around 3:30 a.m. The confrontation began when St. Louis started taunting Childs. Authorities say St. Louis then shot at Childs, who returned fire.
In a matter of seconds, at least 40 shots were fired from five different guns, creating what U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella described as a "killing zone." Both St. Louis and Childs were killed in the exchange. The third fatality, 27-year-old Amadou Diallo, is believed to have been an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
The Suspect's Role and Arrest
Prosecutors allege that after the shooting began, Elijah Roy took cover under a table and fired two shots into the chaotic scene. It is unclear if those shots struck anyone.
"Elijah Roy, a Bloods associate, allegedly participated in a mass shooting in a crowded local restaurant, killing three and significantly injuring another ten in about six seconds," said FBI Assistant Director Chris Raia. "This alleged act of egregious violence harmed bystanders caught in the crosshairs of a gang's territorial dispute."
Roy was arrested last week in North Carolina while carrying $7,000 in cash, according to court documents. Following his arraignment on Wednesday, he was ordered to be held without bail.
The deadly incident stands in stark contrast to the city's overall trend in 2025, which has seen a record-low number of shootings and gun violence victims through the first nine months of the year, according to the NYPD.
