Cops seek vengeful ex-girlfriend in shooting death of Brooklyn dad

Cops are looking to question the vengeful ex-girlfriend of a young Brooklyn father fatally shot outside the home he shared with his grandmother, police sources said Sunday.

Victim Jamel Copeland’s family points the finger squarely at his on-again, off-again ex-girlfriend, also the mother of his son. Police sources confirm she is a person of interest in Copeland’s shooting.

“She was nuts, she was an aggressor. I don’t know what possessed him to fall in love with her over and over,” said the victim’s cousin, Christopher Copeland, 28. “They were on and off, but he was trying to leave her alone because he was tired of her abusing him.”

Family members of Jamel Copeland are pictured at the scene of the shooting on Saturday.
Family members of Jamel Copeland are pictured at the scene of the shooting on Saturday. (Theodore Parisienne)

The 32-year-old victim was shot once in the torso near E. 39th St. and Avenue D about 6:30 a.m. Saturday. He died at Kings County Hospital.

“They know it’s her for sure, no question. They said he was alert and oriented on the way to King’s County,” Christopher Copeland said. “He said his child’s mother shot him.”

Jamel Copeland’s troubles with his girlfriend reached back years, with cops responding to domestic violence incidents between the pair since 2018.

They have a son in common, 3-year old Jamel Jr., who lives with the mom.

In May 2019, Jamel Copeland’s family said, the girlfriend took over his Facebook account, unleashing a torrent of offensive updates.

“She did everything to try and destroy Jamel,” Christopher Copeland said.

A family member reacts to Jamel Copeland's death on Saturday.
A family member reacts to Jamel Copeland’s death on Saturday. (Theodore Parisienne)

Through his Facebook page, she accused him of infidelity, called him a deadbeat dad and insulted his friends and family with homophobic remarks.

“She would go to my grandmother’s house, break the windows, break the car door,” Christopher Copeland said. “I wish the justice system had done more to protect him and my family because she would come over all the time.”

The ex-girlfriend used that same tactic on Saturday morning to lure him to the street to his death, his cousin said.

“She was breaking the windows on my grandmother’s house. He was in his house sleeping peacefully,” Christopher Copeland said. “He was assassinated.”

His close-knit family was tired of dealing with his ex and wanted to step in, but Jamel Copeland waved them off, saying, “Don’t do nothing to her, don’t touch her, God will take care of her,‘” his cousin recalled.

”Now the child he has loses his father and his mother. He’s only 3 years old,” the cousin lamented.


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Jamel Copeland loved to grill and always had a positive outlook, his cousin said. He recently took a job with the city Parks Department as he tried to build a better life for himself after past troubles with the law.

“He was a good son,” his father, Anthony Copeland, said choking back tears.

“A good father, he wanted to be there for his son. And he had a heart of gold.”

Jamel Copeland was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the torso at Avenue D and E. 39th Street in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Jamel Copeland was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital after he was shot in the torso at Avenue D and E. 39th Street in Brooklyn on Saturday. (Theodore Parisienne)

The cousin, a paramedic working in Texas to battle the coronavirus outbreak, said Jamel Copeland encouraged him to be a first responder.

“He taught me how to drive, how to cook, how to tie my shoes,” Christopher Copeland said.

“It’s crazy, I have treated so many GSW [gunshot wound] patients but for this to personally affect me, I’m speechless,” he added. “I always felt for the victims of violence, but now that it’s touched me personally it’s really resounding with me. I don’t think I’ll ever really feel the same.”

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