Co-founder of Brooklyn sidewalk pond sentenced to 12 years for attempted murder
NEW YORK - The man who helped create the Bed-Stuy fire hydrant pond that became a beloved neighborhood attraction has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for shooting someone in the same area.
Hajj Lovick,48, a Bed-Stuy native, had apparently co-founded the "Bed-Stuy Aquarium," while out on bail.
The makeshift pond was created from a leaky fire hydrant that needed repairs. Lovick and others added goldfish to the water, turning the puddle into a quirky local attraction.
"We started joking about: what if we added fish?" Lovick told FOX 5 NY in Aug. 2024. "Since the water is always there sitting in the puddle, why not turn this into something that’s more interesting?"
NEW YORK, NEW YORK—AUGUST 13: Goldfish swim in a puddle under a leaking fire hydrant on August 13, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Called the "Bed-Stuy Goldfish Pond," the sidewalk puddle has acquired over 30 goldfish after someone ke
The project gained attention online, drawing both support and criticism.
Animal rights advocates raised concerns, but Lovick stood by the pond, which he said enriched the community.
Volunteers fed the fish three times a day, maintained the water flow, and decorated the pond with items like seashells and pearls.
On Friday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Lovick was sentenced after being convicted of second-degree attempted murder after allegedly shooting a man in the leg during an argument outside Lover’s Rock, a bar on Tompkins Avenue, in June 2023.
According to prosecutors, Lovick and the victim, a 51-year-old man, started arguing as they left the bar around 1:40 a.m. Lovick initially pulled out a knife to threaten the man but left the scene. He returned shortly after with a gun and fired two shots at the man and nearby bystandards, hitting the man in the shin.
Video surveillance captured the moments before the shooting, the shooting, and the aftermath of the shooting.
Lovick fled but was later arrested, and police found a knife on him.
He was convicted of multiple charges, including second-degree attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and illegal possession of a weapon.
In Oct,, the pond dried up, leaving Lovick disappointed. "I’m not feeling good, because we took care of it for four months," he said at the time. "Every day I come out in the morning and take care of the fish."
Despite setbacks, Lovick promised to rebuild the pond.
The project eventually attracted nearly 20,000 Instagram followers and became a symbol of neighborhood pride.
Brooklyn DA Gonzalez condemned Lovick’s actions in the shooting. "Today’s sentence sends a clear message that senseless acts of gun violence have no place in Brooklyn," he said.