Teen shot dead in broad daylight during argument in SoHo: police and sources

Police in SoHo are searching for a gunman who shot and killed a teenager in broad daylight Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

According to police sources, the shocking daylight shooting occurred near the corner of Varick and Spring streets on May 7 around 2:41 p.m.

While the exact details of the incident remain under investigation, responding officers said they discovered 16-year-old Mahki Brown with a gunshot wound to the back of the head and two gunshot wounds to the leg.

Sources familiar with the investigation say the shooting began as an argument between two groups of teenage girls that turned deadly when Brown – who reportedly attended a nearby school – became involved.

A few moments later, police said, two teenagers – both apparently riding Citi Bikes – rolled up to the scene, jumped off and started shooting. Police have yet to confirm whether Brown was the intended target.

Officials of the 1st district responded to the shooting. EMS took Brown to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“We heard two bangs,” said a worker nearby who did not want to be identified. “We peered over from the roof and saw him bleeding from his leg and head. They gave him CPR.”

According to the latest CompStat report dated May 5, Tuesday’s shooting was the first recorded episode of gun violence in the 1st District of the year. Furthermore, there had only been one murder earlier that year – the brutal murder of a woman in a SoHo hotel.

So far there have been no arrests as part of the ongoing investigation, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or on X (formerly Twitter). @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are treated confidentially.