A Jamaican man was fatally shot near a lounge in Queens, New York, in an incident connected to an ongoing conflict originating from his home country.
The incident occurred earlier this month and has since drawn attention due to its international implications.
A night out turns fatal
Kardell Lester, a 25-year-old from Kingston, Jamaica, was leaving the Liquid Lounge with a friend when a drive-by shooter targeted him.
The attack took place near 199-23 Linden Blvd. around 1:45 a.m. on May 4.
Reports are that Lester was shot in the head, and succumbed to his injuries in the hospital two days later.
Longstanding feud
The motive behind the shooting appears to be a longstanding feud between two neighborhoods in Kingston—Denham Town and Tivoli Gardens.
This dispute, which escalated following a homicide in 2023, has led to repeated violence among the involved parties.
According to Chief Kenny, these tensions have traveled with the individuals involved to southern Queens, where confrontations have erupted upon their encounters.
Reports are that no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
