BROOKLYN, NY — In a tragic and senseless act of violence, 27-year-old Jahshyim Whitfield was shot and killed Saturday night while waiting for his 9-year-old daughter to finish a hair appointment near the Lafayette Gardens NYCHA complex in Clinton Hill. The young father, remembered as devoted, loving, and trying to build a better life, leaves behind a grieving family and a shaken community.
The fatal shooting occurred around 9:20 p.m. near Dekalb and Kent Avenues — an area already scarred by past violence. Whitfield, riding a CitiBike at the time, was struck by gunfire, suffering a fatal wound to his torso. He was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“He was just waiting for his daughter’s hair to be done,” said his heartbroken aunt. “That’s all he was doing — waiting.”
Jahshyim had recently turned 27 in June. A proud father of two daughters, ages 9 and 7, he was known for his fierce love for his children and his deep passion for music. Whether it was Chief Keef blaring from his headphones or the soulful rhythms of The Isley Brothers filling his home, Jahshyim carried a soundtrack to match his every mood.
“He had an old soul,” his aunt recalled. “He loved music. All kinds.”
His grandmother, Evelyn — whom he lovingly called “Ma” — remembered his birthday celebration just weeks ago. “I made him oxtail, cabbage, yellow rice, and cornbread — all his favorites,” she said through tears. “He was so happy.”
Whitfield worked multiple security jobs at local bars and clubs to support his family. Though his past included involvement in a 2016 gang-related indictment when he was 18, his family says he was turning his life around, driven by the responsibilities of fatherhood and the desire to give his daughters a brighter future.
“He was present. He was trying,” his aunt said. “He loved his girls and wanted to do better.”
The streets where Jahshyim lost his life are again filled with grief and unanswered questions. As police continue their investigation, no arrests have been made, and a motive has yet to be confirmed. The NYPD urges anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Now, a family must face an unbearable truth — two young girls will grow up without their father, and a mother will forever wonder why a man working to rewrite his story had it ended so violently.
Rest in peace, Jahshyim Whitfield — a father, a son, a soul silenced far too soon.
