After what authorities characterize as an unintentional gunshot inside a Brooklyn NYCHA apartment, 16-year-old junior Ka’mardre Coleman of Sheepshead Bay High School died. His family, friends, and teammates are distraught.
His loved ones recall him as a brilliant, motivated, and adored young guy who was an academic and sports standout. He was his sister’s “heart” and “everything,” a mentor to younger children with lofty aspirations for his future.
On the evening of Monday, March 23, Ka’mardre was hanging out with a small group of friends inside an apartment at the Sheepshead Bay Houses, the NYCHA complex where he lived in a different building. According to investigators, the teens were passing around a loaded pink‑and‑black firearm brought by a 16‑year‑old whose mother is an NYPD officer. They were taking photos and videos with the weapon when the situation took a tragic turn.
Police say the 16‑year‑old took the gun back and began removing the magazine when it suddenly discharged. The bullet struck Ka’mardre in the chest. His friends immediately attempted CPR while calling for help, but the injury was catastrophic. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. He was just four days away from his 17th birthday.
Ka’mardre was widely admired at Sheepshead Bay High School, where he was a three‑sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and track. Teammates described him as a hardworking, inspiring presence who helped lead their team to a championship. He wore the number 5 jersey in both football and basketball and had recently made the dean’s list after pushing himself academically to match his athletic success.
The teen charged in the shooting was arrested the following day and arraigned on counts including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and criminal possession of a firearm. Attorneys for both sides acknowledged that the shooting was accidental, the result of teens mishandling a loaded gun. Police continue to investigate how the weapon was accessed and why it was brought into the apartment.
In the days following his death, classmates, teachers, and family gathered in the school courtyard for a vigil marking what would have been Ka’mardre’s 17th birthday. They brought flowers, balloons, and candles, sharing stories and singing “Happy Birthday” through tears. Loved ones remembered him as a joyful, goofy, affectionate teen who loved making TikTok videos and dreamed of playing college football and eventually joining law enforcement. His loss has left a profound void in the community.