PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS — A man was killed and three other people wounded during a shooting inside a hookah lounge early Friday morning, police said.
Cristine Phillips, 27, of Prospect-Lefferts Gardens was inside the Buda Hookah Lounge, located inside Ali's Roti Shop at 589 Flatbush Ave., at about 2:56 a.m. when he encountered the gunman, who he had fought with in the past, sources said.
The gunman exchanged words with Phillips before opening fire and striking him in the head and torso, sources said.
"He wanted him dead," a police source said.
A 25-year-old man was was shot in the right foot, a 25-year-old woman was shot in the torso and a 28-year-old man was grazed in the head by a bullet, police said. The wounded victims were not the intended targets, sources said.
Phillips was transported to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The wounded victims were all transported to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, police said.
Police were reviewing surveillance video from the shooting, sources said. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large, sources said.
James Cruz, 21, a bouncer who works at the lounge, said about 70 people were in the bar and he heard five shots.
"A bullet went right past my ear," said Cruz.
"It was close enough that I could hear it go by. It was one guy shooting. People were running out, running to the back, to the kitchen."
Sean Johnson, who also works at the lounge, said he was stuck in the middle of the melee as people rushed to the exit after the shooting and saw a friend try to help the victim after he was shot.
"The guy was on the floor," said Johnson. "He had a friend over him saying, 'Please don't die! Please, please don't die!'"
Susan Smith, 56, who lives near the scene, said the hookah lounge opened recently and already has had numerous problems with fights and loud noises.
"It's been an issue for months," said Smith. "Cops are there practically every night."
No arrests have been made and police said an investigation is ongoing.
