Ramel Fisher Killed and 63-Year-Old Man Wounded in Brooklyn Night Shooting Outside Putnam Avenue Building: Gunfire Leaves Community Shaken and Searching for Answers
What started as a quiet night on Putnam Avenue ended in bloodshed and heartbreak, as a burst of violence turned an ordinary Brooklyn block into the site of a fatal shooting. Ramel Fisher, 39, was shot in the stomach and later died from his injuries. Just steps away, a 63-year-old man was also struck—shot in the eye while simply standing outside, caught in the crossfire of a violence he had no part in. The incident unfolded shortly after 10 p.m., just outside 1233 Putnam Avenue, a residential building in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.
The echoes of gunfire shattered the stillness of the night, sending residents into a state of fear, disbelief, and sorrow. One man’s life was stolen. Another’s was forever changed. A neighborhood was left grappling with the trauma.
Sudden Chaos on a Quiet Block
Witnesses say the night had been uneventful—children were inside, the sidewalks mostly quiet, neighbors unwinding after a long day. Then came the shots—sharp, rapid, unmistakable. People ducked for cover, looked out windows, and called for help.
When officers from the New York Police Department arrived at the scene, they found Ramel Fisher on the ground, gravely wounded. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Just feet away, the 63-year-old man was also on the pavement, blood streaming from a facial injury caused by a bullet to the eye. First responders performed emergency measures on both men and rushed them to nearby hospitals.
Despite efforts to save him, Fisher succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The older man survived and remains hospitalized in serious condition. His name has not been released publicly, but neighbors described him as a longtime resident—soft-spoken, respectful, and often seen walking the block or chatting with others from his stoop.
No Arrests, No Motive
Authorities found three shell casings at the scene. As of now, no suspects have been identified, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Was it a targeted attack? A dispute gone too far? Or a reckless act of street violence with unintended victims?
Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from buildings in the area and canvassing for witnesses who may have seen the shooter flee. So far, no arrests have been made.
In the absence of answers, what remains is silence—and fear.
A Life Lost: Who Was Ramel Fisher?
Those who knew Ramel Fisher describe him as a man with layers—someone who had his struggles but was trying to stay out of trouble. He was known on the block, someone who greeted familiar faces, minded his business, and tried to keep peace with everyone.
“He didn’t deserve that,” said one neighbor, who had spoken to Fisher earlier in the day. “He was just out here. He wasn’t bothering nobody. Now he’s gone, just like that.”
Fisher’s death marks another life ended too soon by gun violence, another family left to grieve without warning. Loved ones have begun leaving candles and photos outside the building where he was shot. Messages scribbled on poster boards call for peace, justice, and remembrance.
The Other Victim: A By-Stander, Now a Survivor
The second victim in this tragedy wasn’t involved in any conflict—he was merely present when the bullets flew. Shot in the eye, he now faces a long and painful recovery, both physically and emotionally. The randomness of his injury has rattled neighbors the most. If he could be hit, they say, anyone could.
“He just happened to be there,” said a resident of the building next door. “That could’ve been my father. That could’ve been anyone. We’re all scared.”
Though he survived, the trauma of that moment—of being shot on a peaceful night, for no reason—will likely linger long after the physical wounds begin to heal.
A Neighborhood Under Siege
For many in Bed-Stuy, gun violence is not new—but that doesn’t make it any less devastating. The emotional toll of these incidents accumulates. The memory of sirens, the sight of blood on the sidewalk, the knowledge that someone you know is suddenly gone—it weighs heavily on the soul of a neighborhood.
Older residents recall a time when disputes were settled with words, not weapons. Younger residents, many growing up around such violence, are left questioning whether safety is even possible on their own block.
“This is getting too normal,” said a mother walking her child to school the morning after the shooting. “Every time we think it’s calming down, we’re reminded it’s not over.”
Police Response and Community Demands
Following the shooting, NYPD increased patrols in the area, promising a more visible presence and urging residents to come forward with any information that could help solve the case. Yet many remain hesitant—fearful of retaliation or doubtful that justice will be served.
Community leaders, meanwhile, are calling for more than police. They want investment in youth programs, mental health support, neighborhood watch efforts, and long-term anti-violence strategies.
“We need more than lights and sirens after someone dies,” said a local pastor. “We need resources before the trigger is pulled.”
Remembering Ramel Fisher
Ramel Fisher’s life mattered. He wasn’t just a victim in a police report or a name in the news. He had family, friends, and people who cared for him. He had plans. He had flaws like everyone else. But he also had a heart, a story, and a future that was violently taken from him.
As candles flicker on the sidewalk outside 1233 Putnam Avenue, the pain of his loss is written in the faces of those who gather there. A young cousin places a flower. An older neighbor stands silently in prayer. Across the street, someone wipes away tears.
Moving Forward
As of now, the shooter remains unidentified. The NYPD urges anyone with information to step forward. In the meantime, Ramel Fisher’s loved ones prepare to bury him. The 63-year-old survivor begins what will likely be a long road to recovery. And a neighborhood—hurt, angry, exhausted—tries to carry on.
Gun violence doesn’t just kill. It ripples outward—through homes, through hearts, through generations. The tragedy on Putnam Avenue is another reminder of that.
This community, like so many others, deserves more than survival. It deserves peace.
Tags: Ramel Fisher, Brooklyn shooting, Putnam Avenue, gun violence NYC, Bed-Stuy crime, innocent bystander injured, NYPD investigation, community response
