Dad killed for standing up to teen who stole son's pricey hat at basketball court

FLATBUSH, Brooklyn -- A father was shot and killed over his son's stolen sports team ball cap outside a school in Brooklyn, New York Wednesday.

The ordeal started Saturday, when police said a 17-year-old boy was playing basketball outside PS 6 on Snyder Avenue in Flatbush. Another teen stole his pricey Oakland Raiders ball cap.

Then, while the victim was playing basketball at the same court Wednesday night, he spotted the teen who stole his hat and told his dad.

The father walked over to apparent thief and grabbed the hat back, according to police.

As the father and son were walking away, they were followed by the thief and two of his friends. Police said one of the friends pulled a gun and started firing.

The father, who police identified as 38-year-old Gerald Cummings of Brooklyn, was hit in the head and back. He died a short time later at the hospital. Cummings' son was not hit.

The NYPD has identified a person of interest in the case, but no details about that person have been released.