Two Robbers Killed on Nostrand ave
Brooklyn shopkeeper kills gunmen but takes bullet in attempted robbery
BY KERRY BURKE and LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Tuesday, November 18th 2008, 2:38 AM
A pistol-packing dad fought a gun duel with a trio of holdup men in his Brooklyn shop Monday night, killing two and sending their lookout running for his life, police said.
The shop owner, who sources identified as Youssouf Brame, took a slug in the stomach and underwent emergency surgery at Kings County Hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition.
A store employee who sources identified as Drummond Bignott, 20, was shot in the leg.
Brame, known to his customers as "Africa," recently became the father of twins.
Investigators said the violence erupted about 8:20 p.m. when two men in their 20s burst into Brame's variety store, known as Africa's on Nostrand Ave. in Crown Heights, pointed a handgun at him and demanded money.
But Brame, who either carried a gun or had one in the store for protection, drew down on the men, cops said.
Police were still piecing together what happened next, but there was a burst of gunfire, and when the smoke cleared, one bandit was dead, another ran from the store bleeding from a fatal chest wound and the third escaped.
Brame was down on the floor behind his register, and Bignott, bleeding badly, staggered outside and called his grandmother.
"He was crying. All he could tell me was [that] he got shot," said an anguished Grace McNeill. "They took him away before I got here and I don't know what happened to him."
Roberto Feliz, 18, was sitting outside his father's bodega near Brame's place when he "heard like four shots," he said.
"One guy was holding the door like a guard, and he just ran away. Then another guy comes out. He stumbled around the corner and fell down."
Police said this suspect, who later died, was headed for a getaway car on Lefferts Ave., just off Nostrand. He was later identified by his brother as Leon Harris, 25.
"He was a good guy," said Mark Harris, 31. "Leon caught up in a robbery? I don't believe it. No way."
Feliz said he was still trying to figure out what happened when Bignott limped out of the store, yelling for help. Feliz said he called 911.
Police last night said they had recovered at least one gun and were still hunting for the man who got away and talking to other possible witnesses.
[email protected]
BY KERRY BURKE and LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Tuesday, November 18th 2008, 2:38 AM
A pistol-packing dad fought a gun duel with a trio of holdup men in his Brooklyn shop Monday night, killing two and sending their lookout running for his life, police said.
The shop owner, who sources identified as Youssouf Brame, took a slug in the stomach and underwent emergency surgery at Kings County Hospital, where he was in critical but stable condition.
A store employee who sources identified as Drummond Bignott, 20, was shot in the leg.
Brame, known to his customers as "Africa," recently became the father of twins.
Investigators said the violence erupted about 8:20 p.m. when two men in their 20s burst into Brame's variety store, known as Africa's on Nostrand Ave. in Crown Heights, pointed a handgun at him and demanded money.
But Brame, who either carried a gun or had one in the store for protection, drew down on the men, cops said.
Police were still piecing together what happened next, but there was a burst of gunfire, and when the smoke cleared, one bandit was dead, another ran from the store bleeding from a fatal chest wound and the third escaped.
Brame was down on the floor behind his register, and Bignott, bleeding badly, staggered outside and called his grandmother.
"He was crying. All he could tell me was [that] he got shot," said an anguished Grace McNeill. "They took him away before I got here and I don't know what happened to him."
Roberto Feliz, 18, was sitting outside his father's bodega near Brame's place when he "heard like four shots," he said.
"One guy was holding the door like a guard, and he just ran away. Then another guy comes out. He stumbled around the corner and fell down."
Police said this suspect, who later died, was headed for a getaway car on Lefferts Ave., just off Nostrand. He was later identified by his brother as Leon Harris, 25.
"He was a good guy," said Mark Harris, 31. "Leon caught up in a robbery? I don't believe it. No way."
Feliz said he was still trying to figure out what happened when Bignott limped out of the store, yelling for help. Feliz said he called 911.
Police last night said they had recovered at least one gun and were still hunting for the man who got away and talking to other possible witnesses.
[email protected]
Comments
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On 1010 WINS this morning they reported that the shop had been robbed three separate times recently, and that the owner got the gun because he was sick and tired of it. They also reported that the shop owner took a bullet to the belly and was currently in critical condition.
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AUDIO: Brooklyn Store Shootout Leaves 2 Dead
http://www.1010wins.com/AUDIO--Brooklyn-Store-Shootout-Leaves-2-Dead/3336402
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Police say the owner of a New York City variety store shot and killed two armed thugs who tried to rob him.
Sonia Rincon reports.
The Brooklyn store owner was wounded in the Monday night gun battle and is hospitalized in critical condition.
Police say they found one of the dead men inside the store and the other on the street nearby. They haven't released the men's identities. They say they don't know who fired first.
Neighborhood residents and customers say they heard many shots at the store, which sells clothing and household items.
Those who know the owner say he goes by the name Africa and has three children. They say he opened the store a decade ago and is always friendly. -
Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Was Africa's gun legal? By anybody's standard this guy is a hero. I'm also curious what the rank and file think of a law abiding citizen defending himself. Is the use of deadly force colored by the fact it was done with a illegal handgun?
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modsquad wrote: Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Was Africa's gun legal? By anybody's standard this guy is a hero. I'm also curious what the rank and file think of a law abiding citizen defending himself. Is the use of deadly force colored by the fact it was done with a illegal handgun?
Good question. If the gun's illegal, technically Africa is going to face jail time. I think it used to be up to the discretion of the DA's office and judges, but I think there may be mandatory sentencing now for concealed/illegal weapons. I could be wrong though.
Anybody got the cross streets or an exact address? -
I wanna know the address too. They said there was a getaway car waiting on Lefferts so I imagine it would be somewhere down there.
Nostrand is pretty crazy now; reminds me of Franklin back in 05 -
Cool The Kid wrote:
Peh, '05....shoulda seen it in '99. :roll:
Nostrand is pretty crazy now; reminds me of Franklin back in 05 -
Live by the gun, die by the gun. I'll stick to my DeWalt.
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I am not a huge fan of people taking the law into their own hands. That being said, this is a million miles from that guy in Dallas who took a shot gun to two unarmed illegal immigrants burglarizing his neighbor's house. I am not sure what else Africa could do, these guys may well have decided to shoot him anyway. I think that we as a society need start getting a lot nastier with fire arms offenses. I am not suggesting gun control here (although I am in favor of that, but the robbers were unlikely to have used a legal weapon) but just making it so that anyone committing a fire arms offense is guaranteed to spend a long time up the river, and if they're not a citizen, be deported immediately upon release.
If everyone in this country, from the president down, expressed their strong disapproval of vigilantism and fire arms offenses, we may one day change the mind set that thinks its their God given right to walk into a store and demand money at gunpoint.
Criminality is a mindset, as is respect for the law and one's fellow citizens. It is the mindset we need to change. Unfortunately, with the recession and the unemployment that will bring, we may have a tough time doing that. -
BoogieKnight wrote: Anybody got the cross streets or an exact address?
1051 Nostrand Avenue, which is Lefferts and Nostrand. -
bohuma wrote: I am not a huge fan of people taking the law into their own hands. That being said, this is a million miles from that guy in Dallas who took a shot gun to two unarmed illegal immigrants burglarizing his neighbor's house. I am not sure what else Africa could do, these guys may well have decided to shoot him anyway.
Well, yeah. The whole story, such as it is, has yet to come out. But I would say that defending oneself against two armed men pointing a gun at you inside your own store is a far cry from taking the law into your own hands. -
People kill people, guns saves lives. Long live the NRA.
Oh, look what the economic down turn is doing to us. -
The presumption that an economic downturn will lead to more violent street crime is ludicrous. Do you think these assholes tried to rob this store because they were hungry or needed to buy shoes for their children. Give me a break!
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worldwide trader wrote: People kill people, guns saves lives. Long live the NRA.
can haz hit, plzze?
Oh, look what the economic down turn is downing to us.
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modsquad wrote: The presumption that an economic downturn will lead to more violent street crime is ludicrous. Do you think these assholes tried to rob this store because they were hungry or needed to buy shoes for their children. Give me a break!
Yes, he was a good boy!NY Daily News wrote: Police said this suspect, who later died, was headed for a getaway car on Lefferts Ave., just off Nostrand. He was later identified by his brother as Leon Harris, 25.
"He was a good guy," said Mark Harris, 31. "Leon caught up in a robbery? I don't believe it. No way." -
modsquad wrote: The presumption that an economic downturn will lead to more violent street crime is ludicrous. Do you think these assholes tried to rob this store because they were hungry or needed to buy shoes for their children. Give me a break!
Look pal, your reality is not their reality. A man making 100K a year looks at life differently than a guy making 15K a year. That is why I keep my 100k car doors locked and a licensed gun in the glove-box. -
Off-topic flaming posts removed
So how about that robbery? :evil: -
...if it the shooting by the owner gives future robbers pause, I would cheer.
But robbers are dumb, so this shooting will likely only work on the two directly effected. -
This article is missing three statements about the perpetrators that I've always thought were required in this type of story:
(1) "He was looking for a job"
(2) "He was planning/thinking of going back to school"
(3) "His child was the most important thing in his life"
Oh well, at least they quoted the inevitable "he was a good person" line. -
worldwide trader wrote: [quote=modsquad]The presumption that an economic downturn will lead to more violent street crime is ludicrous. Do you think these assholes tried to rob this store because they were hungry or needed to buy shoes for their children. Give me a break!
Look pal, your reality is not their reality. A man making 100K a year looks at life differently than a guy making 15K a year. That is why I keep my 100k car doors locked and a licensed gun in the glove-box.
Trader, is your theory that the less money people make the more dishonest they are? And of course the more they make the more honest? Is your biggest fear being approached by a gas station attendant when you fill up over in NJ? Is your piece "cocked" and ready in the center console next to your beverage warmer (or cooler depending upon the season of course)? -
LOLOLOL......I see more savage nonsense once again in your so called wonderful, quiet, civil, peaceful community. As usual the robbers were "good guys." So how long till their communion photos come out? OH and I'm still waiting to hear people go, why couldn't he shoot them in the leg or shoot the gun out of this hand. When is Fat Al and the moronic charles barron going to start their protest? Oh wait thats right, the police aren't involved so they don't do that.
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LOL, you really think these mopes had jobs. Modsquad is right. You want to know why these black teenagers go around robbing people. It's because they are in gangs, their savages and they are just down right lazy people. They don't want any job. They would rather rob and shoot someone than stay in school, study hard and make something of themselves. And their ohh so caring parents have no idea what the fuck their little darlings are doing all night. The parents are to blame. No control, no idea and so damn nieve. "Oh not my son, he would never do something like that." How many times have I heard that. This is the shit that happens in the ghetto. It should come as no surprise.
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Im a sloper wrote: LOL, you really think these mopes had jobs. Modsquad is right. You want to know why these black teenagers go around robbing people. It's because they are in gangs, their savages and they are just down right lazy people. They don't want any job. They would rather rob and shoot someone than stay in school, study hard and make something of themselves. And their ohh so caring parents have no idea what the fuck their little darlings are doing all night. The parents are to blame. No control, no idea and so damn nieve. "Oh not my son, he would never do something like that." How many times have I heard that. This is the shit that happens in the ghetto. It should come as no surprise.
While I agree that these dudes were obviously up to no good, I don't think it's too bright to assume that all poor black people are 'savages' who 'don't want jobs' and are 'downright lazy people'...
A lot of it has to do with the entitlement mentality that comes along with welfare and poverty, and is prevalent in poor white communities as well. Furthermore, there are many social and economic factors that have been embedded in laws & such that really make getting out of the ghetto tough. For example, the schools in neighborhoods like Brownsville are 10000x worse than schools in a suburb; employment prospects are bleak in those neighborhoods as nobody has money to spend, and the infrastructure development that comes with economic prosperity doesn't go to neighborhoods with what amounts to a negative tax rate. Kids from two parent homes who are well above the poverty line have it so much easier than kids from the ghetto; i.e. if you fail and you had all the opportunities, barring some extreme circumstance it's probably your fault.
That said, there are plenty of people in the ghetto who AREN'T robbing people, just working and trying to make a living. So to write off a whole group of people based on a few isolated incidents seems like nothing more than a weak attempt to justify your own racist views. -
It's no different in crappy white neighborhoods, except we call them white trash. And don't try to say that I'm classifying poor black people as savages. I've known poor black people who actually gave a damn and cared what their kids were doing on the streets. I've met poor black people who were legitamately trying to do the very best for their families. I would be willing to guarantee that these teens were not poor. They are your typical ghetto hoodlums who join gangs, rob and kill people because they are lazy. They don't want school. they don't want jobs, they want what they want the easy way. And the reason being is because their parents don't give a shit. They want everyone else to be responsible for their kids. And when a cop shoots one of them because they were robbing someone or they had a gun, all of a sudden they are such innocent children who had so much potential going for them. The communion photos start coming out, Fat Al starts his protests, and you know the rest of the cycle. And unfortunately this is far more common of an occurence in the ghetto than just a poor, caring black family who are trying to do the best they can and properly guiding their children. Thats why your schools are 10000x worse. The parents don't give a shit or show any interest, so why should teachers or principal's care. And God forbid if a teacher did care and tried to do any sort of discipline. They are arrested, they're on the news like they're some kind of out of control teacher. All of a sudden the parent pretends they care. The problem with the ghetto is not that they are poor people, it's that they are people that don't give a shit and blame everyone else for their problems. Something as simple as finding that someone put graffiti on a wall or fence on your property Most people in the ghetto would just leave it there because they don't care. Me, I would be out there the next day getting rid of it. Thats the difference. It's not about how much money you make, it's about caring where you live, caring about your kids and what they are doing and caring about what happenes in your neighborhood.
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so what are you doing to help?
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Im a sloper wrote: It's no different in crappy white neighborhoods, except we call them white trash. And don't try to say that I'm classifying poor black people as savages. I've known poor black people who actually gave a damn and cared what their kids were doing on the streets. I've met poor black people who were legitamately trying to do the very best for their families. I would be willing to guarantee that these teens were not poor. They are your typical ghetto hoodlums who join gangs, rob and kill people because they are lazy. They don't want school. they don't want jobs, they want what they want the easy way. And the reason being is because their parents don't give a shit. They want everyone else to be responsible for their kids. And when a cop shoots one of them because they were robbing someone or they had a gun, all of a sudden they are such innocent children who had so much potential going for them. The communion photos start coming out, Fat Al starts his protests, and you know the rest of the cycle. And unfortunately this is far more common of an occurence in the ghetto than just a poor, caring black family who are trying to do the best they can and properly guiding their children. Thats why your schools are 10000x worse. The parents don't give a shit or show any interest, so why should teachers or principal's care. And God forbid if a teacher did care and tried to do any sort of discipline. They are arrested, they're on the news like they're some kind of out of control teacher. All of a sudden the parent pretends they care. The problem with the ghetto is not that they are poor people, it's that they are people that don't give a shit and blame everyone else for their problems. Something as simple as finding that someone put graffiti on a wall or fence on your property Most people in the ghetto would just leave it there because they don't care. Me, I would be out there the next day getting rid of it. Thats the difference. It's not about how much money you make, it's about caring where you live, caring about your kids and what they are doing and caring about what happenes in your neighborhood.
OK, I can get jiggy with this.
However, the lack of tax revenue in these areas, whatever be the cause (people just not making enough money, or people actively seeking handouts over employment) has a lot to do with the conditions of these neighborhoods as well.
People cry out about gentrification, but there is a lot of good that comes from it. Generally speaking, neighborhoods filled with working people are way better than neighborhoods filled with unemployed people.
Thanks for the clarification of your views, and sorry for assumptiosn on my end -
modsquad wrote: [quote=worldwide trader][quote=modsquad]The presumption that an economic downturn will lead to more violent street crime is ludicrous. Do you think these assholes tried to rob this store because they were hungry or needed to buy shoes for their children. Give me a break!
Look pal, your reality is not their reality. A man making 100K a year looks at life differently than a guy making 15K a year. That is why I keep my 100k car doors locked and a licensed gun in the glove-box.
Trader, is your theory that the less money people make the more dishonest they are? And of course the more they make the more honest? Is your biggest fear being approached by a gas station attendant when you fill up over in NJ? Is your piece "cocked" and ready in the center console next to your beverage warmer (or cooler depending upon the season of course)?
Look modsquad, I now that with the more money you make the more vices you indulge in. Hell, the things I do in my spare time, would not be fit to print, but I worked like hell to make my life better than my parents and I am going to keep it that way. -
Update: The shop owner was unarmed, the two (so-called) robbers each had a gun, he _took_ one of their guns and shot both of them...
Even though he was unarmed, the shop owner, identified by neighbors as Youssouf Drame, 35, wrested a gun away from one of the men and fatally shot two of them. The police say that two other suspects — it’s unclear whether they entered the store — are at large.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/nyregion/19robbery.html -
worldwide trader wrote: [quote=modsquad]Trader, is your theory that the less money people make the more dishonest they are? And of course the more they make the more honest? Is your biggest fear being approached by a gas station attendant when you fill up over in NJ? Is your piece "cocked" and ready in the center console next to your beverage warmer (or cooler depending upon the season of course)?
Look modsquad, I now that with the more money you make the more vices you indulge in. Hell, the things I do in my spare time, would not be fit to print, but I worked like hell to make my life better than my parents and I am going to keep it that way.
This in no way needs to be true in the least. A good person is going to be a good person whether they make $25k or $300k+. Money and power need not corrupt. They _can_, but it is just one factor of many. A good person with a large income suddenly thrust upon them may or may not indulge, it is up to them. Perhaps some of it has to do with experience and maturity. More factors. No excuses, one chooses to be what one is. -
Candicissima wrote: Off-topic flaming posts removed
How rude! Daver only made the comment that if one were to make $100k/yr, perhaps a $100k auto is not the most apropos choice. The math doesn't add up. And then moderatuh kitteh leaves the "off-topic" post that daver was responding to. And then moderatuh kitteh calls daver's sexuality into question. Not that there is anything _wrong_ with that.
Candicissima wrote: So how about that robbery? :evil:
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daver wrote: [quote=Candicissima]Off-topic flaming posts removed
How rude! Daver only made the comment that if one were to make $100k/yr, perhaps a $100k auto is not the most apropos choice. The math doesn't add up. And then moderatuh kitteh leaves the "off-topic" post that daver was responding to. And then moderatuh kitteh calls daver's sexuality into question. Not that there is anything _wrong_ with that.Candicissima wrote: So how about that robbery? :evil:
My post was removed also. I was only accusing Trader of being a day tripper in the South Fork.
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