On the night of August 8, 2021, a backyard party on Essex Street in East New York, Brooklyn was struck by sudden gunfire. Thirty-two-year-old Donald Nash was among several people hit; three attendees died of their injuries, including Nash, 36-year-old Nicholas Palmer and 36-year-old Novada Bailey. Multiple others were wounded and taken to area hospitals.

According to reports, an unknown number of assailants opened fire; investigators said a possible gang-related dispute was mentioned in some initial accounts but the motive remained unclear. The NYPD appealed for public help identifying those responsible and the investigation remains open. No arrests or publicly identified suspects had been reported by late 2024.

If anyone was at the party or has information about who was involved that night, please come forward to help the families and investigators.