Four Dead From Shootout At Underground NYC Gambling OperationOfficials Still Unclear Whether Shooting Stemmed From Robbery Or Gambling Dispute |
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Four men were killed Saturday morning when a disgruntled gambler opened fire at an underground gambling den in New York City.
According to a New York Post report, 15 rounds were fired just before 7 a.m. Saturday at Triple A Aces catering hall in Brooklyn. The building was home to an illegal gambling operation that included a dice game and a poker game running side-by-side.
Sources believe that Chester Goode, 37, was the man that started the shooting. He died at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the head. Two friends of Goode were killed, as well as the security guard for the game. Three others were rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds, but are expected to survive.
According to sources, Goode and his two friends were playing dice before Goode pulled out a handgun and fired it into the ceiling, telling everyone to get on the floor. It is still unclear if he was trying to stage a robbery or was angry about a gambling loss.
Goode’s action prompted the security guard to return fire, resulting in the shootout and the casualties.
“The cops told me they died with their guns in their hands,” said Samuel Revells, owner of the building, to The Post.
Revells claimed that he had no idea what was going on in his building. The building is deemed a “private and social rental space.” It does not have a gambling or liquor license.
The stakes of the games in question were not disclosed, but law enforcement officials believe it was for “big money” since they found several hundred-dollar bills lying on the ground when they arrived on the scene.
There are currently no legal gambling establishments in New York City. Last January, MGM Resorts purchased Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway, a racino located just north of the Bronx.
Outside of wagers on the races, it only offers slot machines, but MGM hopes to get a full-fledged gaming license from the state when Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s moratorium on gaming licenses is lifted in 2024.
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