Sofronie Hartzog was remembered as a devoted mother whose life centered on her children and the people she loved. Her sudden death in Brooklyn has left her family and community facing a devastating loss.
Hartzog, 33, was fatally shot early Sunday, August 16, 2026, during gunfire near Bergen Street and Howard Avenue in Crown Heights, according to police and local reports. Investigators said a large crowd of about 100 people had gathered near Ooh La La Lounge and Bar when a verbal dispute escalated into gunfire.
Police said Hartzog was shot in the back. She was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A 34-year-old man was also shot in the abdomen and was transported to Kings County Hospital in stable condition.
Authorities believe Hartzog and the injured man were innocent bystanders rather than the intended targets. No arrests had been announced as of Sunday night, and investigators were still working to determine what led to the shooting and identify those responsible.
Hartzog was a mother of five. Patch reported that she was born in Leesville, South Carolina, and later attended Newberry Adult Education while working toward completing her high school credential.
Additional details about her career, wider family history and personal interests have not been publicly confirmed.
Her death has left five children without their mother and a community grieving a life taken unexpectedly. Sofronie Hartzog will be remembered not for the violence that ended her life, but for the love she gave her children and the memories she leaves with those who knew her.