The two men who were fatally shot at a Brooklyn playground were childhood friends who became anti-gun violence activists, heartbroken family and friends of the victims told the Daily News.
Antoine Utsey, 35, visited the NYCHA Howard Houses on Friday to catch up with family members and long-time pal Deon Miller, 33. The two worked at separate gun violence prevention program in Queens and Brooklyn.
“I just know he (Antoine) wanted to turn his life around and be more positive about everything. You know, he just wanted to do right for his kids and have a better future for himself,” Utsey’s older sister who lives in North Carolina, Antoinette Fobbs, 42 said of Utsey.
Emma Seiwell / New York Daily News
The two were fatally shot inside the Howard Playground near the corner of Mother Gaston Blvd. and Glenmore Ave. in Brownsville late Friday. (Emma Seiwell / New York Daily News)
Friday night’s shooting at the playground brought back eerie memories for the Utsey family as 12 years ago, Antoine Utsey’s older brother, Aaron Utsey, was gunned down at the same Howard Houses in Brownsville.
Aaron Utsey, who was 21-years-old at the time of the incident, was fatally shot in the torso at 8:39 p.m. in April 6, 2014.
“My other brother died from gun violence as well, 12 years ago. Our younger brother, Aaron, not too far in the same project. Like it’s just sad. It’s really sad,” Fobbs said.
Antoine Utsey and Deon Miller were inside the Howard Playground near the corner of Mother Gaston Blvd. and Glenmore Ave. in Brownsville, just steps from the Howard Houses, at about 10:20 p.m. Friday, when the gunman opened fire, striking both men. Miller was hit in the neck and Utsey was hit in the chest and ankle, cops said.
“I think I heard like five shots,” a 38-year-old man who lives across the street from the park told the Daily News on Saturday. “My (4-year-old) son said, ‘Oh, it’s fireworks!’ And I’m like, ‘Nah that’s gunshots.’”
“He laid back down,” he said about his son. “I don’t think he really understands it.”
Nearby NYPD officers heard shots and ran over to the playground, where they found the mortally wounded victims. The playground was littered with trash and food, and cops found two bicycles near the victims, cops said.
Fobbs said she saw a Instagram post taken from Antoine Utsey moments before the shooting that showed both victims “having fun”.
“It’s just horrible. It’s so sad that he’s trying to make a difference and for this to happen to him and his friend and they’ve been friends for a long time,” Fobbs said.
Antoine Utsey, left, and Deon Miller were fatally shot inside the Howard Playground in Brooklyn on Friday. (Facebook)
“Deon was very loved; a father a son and a great uncle,” Deon Miller’s brother, Daniel Miller, said.
Deon Miller was rushed to Interfaith Medical Center, but could not be saved. Antoine Utsey died at Brookdale University Hospital.
The gunman, who was wearing a dark-red hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and black sneakers, ran off north along Mother Gaston Boulevard before police arrived. No arrests have been made.
Cops were scouring the area looking for surveillance footage that could help track down the shooter.
A motive for the shooting was not immediately disclosed.
Deon Miller worked for a Brooklyn-based gun violence prevention program and lived in Staten Island and had three children, his brother said. A memorial was held for him Saturday night in the courtyard of the Howard Houses.
Courtesy of family
Antoine Utsey worked as a violence interrupter at the Queens Safety Coalition. (Courtesy of family)
Antoine Utsey who worked as a violence interrupter at the Queens Safety Coalition and in his spare time did work as a content creator and recently started up his own clothing line lived in Manhattan and had three children as well, his sister said.
“He was a good kid. He was involved in the community. Also a father. I believe he had two or three kids. He designed clothes. He held a basketball tournament out here for the kids a few weeks ago. Like I said, he’s a designer, so he designed the (players’) uniforms,” a 47-year-old man who knew Antoine Utsey said.
“I hope that justice will be served. Please make this a priority. Don’t make it be another young black man with no case solved. The murder from my brother is insane, like nobody has been arrested for that, and that was 12 years ago. So please do not allow this to be another case with a black man that’s just not a priority,” Fobbs said.
