The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in tracking down a gunman still on the run who was involved in a wild, gang-fueled Brooklyn lounge shooting that left three dead in August.
Saturday evening, police released a photo of Haile Cummings, 34, who is being sought in connection with the furious shoot-out inside Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Ave. in Crown Heights on Aug. 17.
The three dead included Brims gang member Marvin St. Louis, 19, who cops said sparked the deadly gunfire with a derogatory hand sign. St. Louis blasted multiple gunshots toward Folk Nation gang member Jamel Childs, 35, who returned fire. Amadou Diallo, 27, who police believe was a bystander, was also fatally struck as the bullets flew.
About 10 minutes before the 3:30 a.m. gun battle erupted, Childs and St. Louis were seen on video talking to each other, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said after the shooting.
“Later, Mr. St. Louis approached Mr. Childs and opened fire,” Tisch said. “Mr. Childs returned fire and two other gunmen immediately joined.”
Most of the people shot were not involved in the gang beef, but three of them were Folk Nation members, Tisch said.
A total of 14 people were shot during the gunfight. Forty-two shell casings were recovered by police inside and outside the lounge.
On Oct. 1, cops busted Elijah Roy, 25, a reputed member of the 5-9 Brims gang, a subset of the Bloods, charging him with firing a barrage of bullets at members of the rival Folk Nation Gangster Disciples.
Authorities caught up to Roy down in North Carolina on Sept. 18, where he had $7,000 in cash on him when arrested, the feds alleged.
Video released by federal prosecutors of the Brooklyn lounge shooting showed more than 40 shots fired in just six seconds as patrons fell to the ground or scrambled for the exit. A man the feds identified as Roy can be seen ducking and running, then firing twice as he falls to the ground.
Roy, who also goes by “Eli Spice” and “Swervo,” was charged with assault in aid of racketeering and felon in possession of ammunition. He was ordered held without bail at his arraignment in Brooklyn Federal Court.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
