Troy Gill: Brooklyn boy, 13, shot in alleged gang revenge for beating rival on Instagram Live

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: According to sources, a rival was beaten and made to strip naked on Instagram Live, prompting the 13-year-old Brooklyn boy who was shot dead in what appeared to be a gang hit to take his own life.

Per law enforcement sources, the NYPD has made no arrests in the shooting death of Troy Gill, which occurred a few blocks from his Crown Heights residence on February 29 at around 10 p.m.

Troy Gill was shot four times by rival gang members

After seeing a Brooklyn Nets game earlier in the evening, Gill was shot four times by rival gang members; in his last moments, authorities said, he called his mother in a desperate panic.

Although he did not participate in the social media beating that precipitated the purported revenge killing, sources said that authorities believe Gill was targeted because of his affiliation with a street gang.

Police sources told the New York Post that the suspected gunman was forced to strip naked after being abducted by members of Gill's gang and beaten down in a live-streamed attack, just before Gill was killed.

According to sources, the accused shooter then gathered members of his group, saw Gill, identified him as a member of the rival gang, and shot Gill to death.

Gill was taken to the Kings County hospital following the shooting, where he was later declared deceased. Police found a white Jeep that they believed might be connected to the shooting after conducting their initial investigation.

According to a police spokesperson on Wednesday, the investigation is still ongoing and no one has been taken into custody. 

Internet expresses concerns about the lack of better options for boys

As soon as the news surfaced on the internet, users started reacting to a 13-year-old being a member of a gang. A user wrote, "Obviously the killers need to be locked up. Also we need to give 13 y/o boys better options than joining a gang."

Another user questioned about gang member's parents not caring about their child, "Where’s his parents? If you care about your kids you’d move. 13 who took him to get nets game?"

A third commentator wrote, "Where are their parents? 13 and in a gang, it's 2024, haven't the parents learned that crime and gangs only leads to jail and death by now? Sad. Poor kid doesn't have a chance."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.