Early Tuesday morning, a 32-year-old woman was fatally shot behind Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn. Shalema Gaskin had been at the hospital because her young daughter suffered an asthma attack. Now, police believe that she may have been the intended target.
Gaskin was shot in the neck at 3:10 a.m. and Police Commissioner Kelly said that investigators believe she was shot at close range and, therefore, not the victim of a stray bullet shooting. NY1 reports, "The commissioner also says they're looking for surveillance video, but cameras in the immediate area were not operational at the time." Gaskin's property was still on her when police arrived, suggesting it was not a robbery.
A $12,000 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction for those connected with her murder—the NYPD is offering $10,000 for the arrest and conviction and Crime Stopper is offering $2,000 for the arrest and indictment. Gaskin, who had two other daughters, had been studying at Medgar Evers College. Her mother told the Daily News, "How do you tell a child that their mother is gone? She was their everything. It’s heartbreaking."
