Licensed Gun Owner Claims Self-Defense in Deadly Brooklyn DRT Shooting

Brooklyn, NY — A licensed concealed carrier shot and killed an alleged attacker in Carroll Park an early Saturday morning, January 2025, in what police say appears to be a clear case of self-defense.

Just before 3 a.m., a man walking through the park in Carroll Gardens was reportedly ambushed by 23-year-old Jordan Dillard, who, according to law enforcement sources, put him in a chokehold and held a knife to his throat while demanding money. The victim, who legally carries a concealed firearm, fought back and ultimately shot Dillard [DRT] in the torso.

A knife was recovered at the scene, and police say there is no known connection between the two men.

Witnesses reported hearing an argument followed by several gunshots. One local resident, John Thompson, who lives across from the park, described hearing nine shots in total — a burst of five, then one, then three more. When he went outside about 20 minutes later, emergency responders were already on the scene trying to revive Dillard.

Dillard was transported to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

No charges have been filed against the armed citizen, and sources close to the investigation say charges are unlikely as the incident appears to meet the legal standard for self-defense. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is still reviewing the case.

The shooter holds a valid concealed carry permit, and the firearm used was legally registered.

Despite the facts shared by law enforcement, Dillard’s family believes the story doesn’t add up. His sister, Brandy Dillard, claims her brother was “set up” and was lured to the park under false pretenses. She said a text message circulated among his friends may indicate a trap.

“That’s not my brother. I know my brother,” she told the New York Daily News. “The person who is telling them this is saying whatever they have to say to try to go home.”

Dillard, a resident of the Red Hook Houses, had no prior criminal record. Family members described him as a kind, family-oriented young man trying to improve his life, though he had recently lost his job with a local youth program.

Just days before the shooting, Dillard had been planning to attend the funeral of his cousin, Shamel Miller, who was also shot and killed in an unrelated incident in Coney Island.

Saturday’s shooting is the first murder reported this year in the 76th Precinct, an area known for low crime and family-friendly parks. In fact, the precinct reported zero homicides in all of 2024.

Carroll Park, where the shooting took place, was back to normal hours later, filled with children, strollers, and unsuspecting parents unaware of the violence that had unfolded overnight.

“We come here every weekend,” said one local mom. “It’s a local park — you don’t expect that to happen.”

But for many in the gun-owning community, this incident underscores the importance of the right to self-defense. In a state with strict gun laws, this case reminds us that even in so-called “safe” neighborhoods, violence can strike — and law-abiding citizens must have the ability to protect themselves.

While the investigation continues, early indications suggest this was a lawful use of a firearm by someone who was trained, permitted, and prepared.

For now, one thing is clear: having the right to carry may have saved a life that night.

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