Police are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest after two people were fatally shot and three others wounded Monday night outside a Brooklyn church.
Investigators say an argument broke out around 8:30 p.m. as a wake service was taking place for 38-year-old Jose Robles at the Emmanuel Church of God in Flatbush.
Shots were fired from in front of the church, and from within the church itself.
"According to our Shot Spotter technology, we had 15 rounds were fired at this location at that time period, 8:30 at night. We don't know right now how many shooters there were. We're trying to figure that out but we believe they're multiple," said NYPD Chief Robert Boyce.
"The first bullet I hear boom I grab my kids and start running go on the floor and the cars," said one witness.
Three men and two women were shot.
Two of the men died.
They have been identified as Sharieff Clayton, 40, of the Bronx, and Ronald Murphy, 44, of Brooklyn.
The other victims were taken to the hospital.
Police say another man were also shot a few blocks away but it's not clear if the shootings are connected.
Robles was paroled six years ago after serving time for attempted murder. His family says he had turned his life around, recently graduating from Manhattan College.
They say the shooting was not a gang retaliation.
Community leaders agreed the shooting did not appear to be gang-related but said it reflected a mindset of solving disputes with guns.
"Through the New York City crisis management system we focus on gun violence from a public health perspective. There is no question there is a mental condition that we're dealing with our communities," said Shanduke McPhatter, a community anti-violence activist.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crimestoppers by calling 1-800-577-TIPS, by texting TIP577 to CRIMES, or by going to NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.