The Brooklyn Nets to donate $50K to victims of NYC subway shooting
The team and its staff were deeply affected by the news of the shooting, with the tragedy occurring less than a mile away from the facility where they train
New Yorkers awoke to the horrific news of a shooting on the New York City subway on Tuesday. Having occurred at a station just a short distance from the Nets’ training facility, the team was particularly affected by the tragic events.
The Brooklyn Nets donate $50K to subway shooting victims
At least 10 people were shot by a gunman at the 36th Street station in Brooklyn, New York on tuesday morning. Located less than a mile from the Nets’ practice facility, the mood was somber as more details emerged including the fact that at least 29 people were treated at surrounding hospitals for gunshot wounds, smoke inhalation and other conditions. A search is still underway for the shooter who allegedly fled the seen wearing a construction vest and a gas mask.
“It’s devastating,” Nets star Kevin Durant said. “I don’t know the details. To hear the sirens out front of the practice facility and see so much commotion going on outside, you hope and pray for the best for everybody involved.” The Nets went on to hold a moment of silence and reflection before their game against the Cavs and announced that they would be donating $50,000 - in a joint gift with the New York Liberty Foundation - toward the care of the shooting victims.
Kevin Durant and Nets react to the bad news
Durant admitted that he, like the rest of the team was initially unaware as to the severity of what happened, only learning details through text messages. “They sent us a text saying there might be some traffic but I don’t know why,” Durant said. “And then you look through your phone and see stuff. I hate violence, I hate senseless violence. Hopefully we can figure out the details and get everybody to safety and get everybody the help that they need, but it’s a tough situation right now.”
The Nets star went on to explain that upon arrival he and his teammates began to learn about the tragic events that were unfolding over at the 36th Street station. In addition they began to hear the sounds of helicopters flying above along with the sirens from police cars and ambulances all around the facility. “Guys pretty much heard stories on social media, through their phones, and hopefully we can get this figured out,” Durant said. “And people [can be] safe. I know it’s a couple people shot. It’s an unfortunate situation. Hopefully they get it figured out.”
Nets’Steven Nash weighs in
The Nets head coach Steve Nash also gave his taken, admitting that he wasn’t made aware until they began practice and even then, it was not entirely clear what was happening. “Clearly our community was affected this morning in a tragic, unfortunate, senseless way,” Nash said. “That’s the subway stop for our practice facility and our office. My kids go to school not exceedingly far [from there], so it does hit home and you just feel for all those affected and you just recognize that we have a lot of growing to do as a society and a community and you just feel for everybody in our community that were affected. We saw a side of life today that is ugly, disappointing and can, I think, at times be worrisome for people in the community. But it’s more important now for our community to look at how to support each other and continue to live with conviction and find ways that we can overcome.”
There was also veteran guard Goran Dragic who echoed his coach’s sentiments, disclosing that he was in disbelief as to how close to the Nets’ facility the shooting occurred. “[Assistant coach Jordan Ott] was saying, ‘You see that yellow building? That’s where that happened,’” Dragic said. “So it’s really close. It’s kind of scary how close it was. I’ve already been in the subway a couple of times, but now, I don’t know. I’ve got my doubts.”