A neighborhood Family Day celebration in Brooklyn ended with a mother of five fatally shot after police say she was attacked by a group of women.
Sofronie Hartzog, 33, was among roughly 100 people gathered near Bergen Street and Howard Avenue in Crown Heights during the early morning hours of Aug. 16, 2026. Initial reports from CBS News New York said an argument broke out shortly before 2:30 a.m., followed by gunfire that sent people running from the crowded block.
Hartzog was shot and managed to make her way inside the nearby Ooh La La Lounge seeking help. She was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where she died.
A 34-year-old man was also wounded and survived.
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Police Say Sofronie Was Attacked Before The Shooting
Days after the shooting, police released a more detailed account of what happened before the gunfire.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said a group of women attacked Hartzog during the Kingsborough Houses Family Day celebration. In an Aug. 21 report carried by PIX11, Kenny said, “I think it’s her ex-boyfriend’s family,” while discussing the group at a police briefing.
Police also said friends of Hartzog retrieved a firearm from her vehicle after the attack and fired rounds into the air. According to Kenny’s account, people from the other group then returned fire, and Hartzog was struck.
Earlier reporting from ABC7 New York described Hartzog and the wounded man as apparent unintended victims of the gunfire. Investigators have continued working to determine who fired the fatal shot.
Surveillance footage reviewed by NBC New York showed the crowded intersection erupting into chaos as people began running and shots rang out. Police later identified a person of interest, but no arrest has been publicly announced.
A Mother And Caregiver
Hartzog’s family told CBS News New York that she worked as a caregiver for people with disabilities and devoted herself to her five children. Her relatives said the night she was killed was a rare opportunity for her to go out and enjoy herself.
Her life before Brooklyn also included an educational milestone in South Carolina. In 2022, the Newberry Observer featured Hartzog among students at Newberry Adult Education who completed an intensive summer program while balancing family responsibilities and other challenges. The publication listed her among the program’s recent graduates.
Her friend Jennifer Ortiz told PIX11 that news of Hartzog’s death was difficult to comprehend because she had seen her shortly before the shooting.
Police Continue Searching For The Shooter
Detectives recovered multiple shell casings and collected surveillance footage as part of the homicide investigation, according to CBS News New York.
As of Sept. 27, 2026, no arrest in Hartzog’s killing has been publicly announced.
Anyone with information can contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Tips may be submitted anonymously.
Please share Sofronie Hartzog’s story as police continue searching for the person responsible for the gunfire that ended her life. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number:
Agency: NYPD Crime Stoppers
Phone: 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)
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