Brooklyn Teen Shot, Killed While Celebrating Video-Game Touchdown: Reports

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A teen from Bed-Stuy who died last week from a gunshot wound to the head may have been shot accidentally by a friend who was celebrating a Madden NFL touchdown, according to multiple news outlets.

The victim, Denzel Nash, 16, and his 15-year-old friend were playing the video game in an apartment on the 700 block of Miller Avenue in New Lots around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, police sources told New York Daily News, when Nash’s friend began celebrating a touchdown by waving a gun in the air.

During the victory dance, according to reports, the 15-year-old accidentally shot Nash in the face.

Nash was rushed to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:15 p.m., police said.

The 15-year-old was arrested and charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the NYPD, and an investigation into how the teen acquired the gun is ongoing.

Friends and family took to social media to mourn the death of Nash, a resident of Marcus Garvey Blvd. in northeast Bed-Stuy.

A Facebook user named Lupe Quiroz Gil wrote last Friday that she “can’t believe something like this could happen to someone that was nice and caring.” She called Nash a “wonderful” soccer player.

Another Facebook user, Kordell Wray, wrote Friday: “R.I.P. Denzel Man Smh Shoulda Just Stayed In Soccer Smh.”

Nash previously played soccer for Grand Street Campus High School in East Williamsburg.

Now, his father, Jay Nash, and his former coach, Johnny Chavez, are calling for stricter gun-control laws to reduce teen access to guns, DNAinfo reported.

A GoFundMe page was started Saturday to help Nash’s family with funeral costs. As of Tuesday morning, $9,600 had been donated out of a listed goal of $10,000.

Angela Meloni, the woman who created the GoFundMe, wrote:

I write this now as one of his many teachers who are heartbroken and sickened over this loss; Denzel was a junior at our high school, a former member of the soccer team, and a beloved friend to much of the student body.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, there are many unexpected expenses that his family is currently incurring. As his teachers, friends, family, or even well-meaning strangers, we want to come together to help give Denzel the proper farewell and burial that we all know he deserves.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.

[Photo courtesy of GoFundMe]