Cardi B is offering support in the wake of a tragic shooting that left six teenagers injured outside a Sweet 16 celebration in Brooklyn last month.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2025, outside Burbuja Events, a catering hall in Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills neighborhood. Police say two masked gunmen opened fire into a crowd gathered outside the venue roughly 20 minutes after the party ended. Six teenagers were struck by gunfire and transported to nearby hospitals, where all were listed in stable condition. Several victims required surgery, though officials said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
One of the victims was a 15-year-old girl who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her chest, hip, and knee. According to her father, Dawud Mann, she had been waiting outside for an Uber ride home when the shooting occurred. Earlier that same day, Mann said, his daughter had learned she had been accepted to a dance team.
“She’s questioning why her, why did this happen,” Mann told Eyewitness News.
The teenager is the cousin of Star Brim, a close friend of Cardi B. Around the time of the victim’s birthday, the Bronx rapper reached out directly, surprising the teen with a phone call and sending gifts as she continues her recovery.
Cardi appears on a video call with the teen, offering words of encouragement, resilience, and faith as the girl recovers. “God still have you here,” Cardi tells her, adding that surviving the trauma gives her a powerful story and purpose. She encourages the teen to focus on her future, mentioning college, success, and continuing to celebrate “many more birthdays.”
The victim also comes from a family deeply involved in anti-gun violence work. Her uncle, A.T. Mitchell, was appointed New York City’s first gun violence czar in 2022, and the family has spent decades working in violence interruption and community safety efforts.
Police believe the shooting may be gang-related. Investigators recovered more than 21 shell casings from the scene, and two male suspects remain at large as the investigation continues.
Cardi B has previously used her platform to speak out against gun violence and to support New York communities impacted by it. Her outreach to the injured teen underscores the vital role artists can play in offering personal support to victims and their families in the aftermath of traumatic events.
