A 33-year-old New York City mother of five was killed in a senseless burst of gunfire early Sunday after a massive street fight spilled into chaos outside a Brooklyn bar, police and sources said.
Sofronie Hartzog was apparently an innocent bystander when bullets started flying near the Ooh La La Lounge in Crown Heights around 2:23 a.m. Sunday.
According to police, a fight involving a crowd of roughly 100 people erupted near Bergen Street and Howard Avenue before someone opened fire.
One of the stray bullets struck Hartzog in the back.
A 34-year-old man was also hit in the abdomen, with police saying neither victim appeared to have been the intended target.
After being wounded, Hartzog desperately ran inside the bar looking for help before collapsing in a bathroom, according to authorities.
She was rushed to One Brooklyn Health-One Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, but doctors were unable to save her.
Her devastated family said Hartzog leaves behind five young children.
“They killed her, that’s what happened,” her aunt, Melinda Hartzog, told The Post.
“She was the best person in the world,” she added.
The second shooting victim was taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Kings County Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
Investigators have not revealed what sparked the enormous late-night dispute or exactly how many shots were fired.
Police initially detained two men who reportedly matched descriptions connected to the shooting, but both were later released after investigators determined they were not involved.
As of Sunday afternoon, the gunman remained on the loose.
The horrifying killing is another painful example of innocent New Yorkers getting caught in the middle of reckless street violence, leaving a family shattered while police hunt for whoever pulled the trigger.
No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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