By ESENDOM
August 12, 2025
Lea en español: Tiroteo en fiesta comunitaria de Sunset Park deja un dominicano muerto; sospechoso vino desde Florida
Key Points:
Victim identified as Roberto Cuevas, 45, a Sunset Park resident of Dominican origin.
Suspect allegedly traveled from Florida, suggesting a premeditated killing.
Incident took place during a summer block party on 57th Street and 4th Avenue, with families and children present.
Cuevas was shot in the back after an argument; he died at the hospital shortly after.
NYPD has a suspect in custody as the investigation continues.
BROOKLYN, NY — What began as a lively summer block party with music, food, and dominoes ended in tragedy on Saturday night in Sunset Park. Roberto Cuevas, a 45-year-old Dominican man, lost his life after being shot in the back during the celebration on August 9.
According to police sources, Cuevas had argued earlier in the evening with the alleged shooter, a man who investigators say traveled from Florida to commit the crime — pointing to a planned attack.
The shooting occurred around 9:11 p.m., as the party was winding down. Witnesses reported hearing four gunshots, sparking panic among attendees, many of them families with children.
Cuevas was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, where he died shortly afterward. The NYPD confirmed that the suspect, Tony Caba, 39, is in custody as they work to formalize charges.
For Sunset Park’s Dominican community, the killing is not only an emotional blow but also a stark reminder that gun violence continues to threaten communal spaces — even during events meant to bring people together.