The Fatal Morning Drive That Shocked Brooklyn
On the morning of July 7, 1967, 17-year-old Nancy Mchuan was driving along a scenic highway in Brooklyn, New York, on her way to work at her father’s office. Coming from her home in Long Island, she was enjoying the peaceful drive in her brand-new yellow Camaro, a gift from her father. With the ocean breeze blowing in through her open window, Nancy seemed to be savoring the moment.
But at exactly 8:40 a.m., everything changed.
A police lieutenant driving just a few cars behind Nancy watched in horror as her Camaro suddenly veered off the road, narrowly missing traffic before slamming into a tree. Thinking she had suffered a medical emergency, the officer rushed to her aid. Nancy was still alive, slumped over the steering wheel and moaning softly, but she had no visible injuries and was completely unresponsive.
A Medical Mystery Turns Criminal
Nancy was rushed to a hospital where medical staff struggled to understand what had caused her condition. She was not intoxicated, and there were no external signs of trauma. However, her condition rapidly deteriorated, and despite attempts to save her with adrenaline injections, Nancy passed away at 11:30 a.m., just two and a half hours after the crash.
Only after her death did doctors make a chilling discovery — a small, circular bullet wound hidden beneath her hair. It had not bled externally, which explained why it had gone unnoticed. Nancy hadn’t crashed due to a health issue; she had been shot in the head.
Detective Albert Seedman Takes the Case
Veteran NYPD Detective Albert Seedman, known for his tireless investigations, took the lead. The mystery was baffling: there were no bullet holes in Nancy’s car, no shell casings nearby, and no witnesses heard gunfire. The lieutenant who was right behind Nancy during the crash didn’t hear a shot either.
Seedman knew the bullet had to come from somewhere, and began canvassing the highway for any signs of gunfire, but came up empty. With no physical evidence, the investigation pivoted to interviewing witnesses.
Over the next five days, hundreds of people were questioned. Still, no solid leads emerged — until July 12th.
A Local Gas Station Owner Recalls a Critical Detail
On July 12th, detectives visited a gas station just two blocks from where Nancy had crashed. The owner, Theodore Dei, immediately suspected their visit was about Nancy. He knew her and her father personally and had been following the case closely.
At first, Theodore claimed he hadn’t seen or heard anything unusual that morning. But upon further questioning, he began to remember something critical. He had taken his boat out to go fishing that morning. At 8:40 a.m., the exact time Nancy crashed, he had fired a shot at a can floating on the water.
He missed.
And then it hit him — could the bullet have ricocheted off the water, flown up toward the highway, and accidentally struck Nancy?
The Tragic Truth Behind the Ricochet Bullet
Ballistics confirmed the horrifying truth. Theodore’s shot ricocheted off the water and traveled with unlikely precision to the highway above, striking Nancy just as she leaned toward her open window. It was a tragic accident of unimaginable odds.
Theodore was charged with homicide, but a grand jury chose not to indict him, citing that the shooting was unintentional. However, he was fined $100 for discharging a firearm within city limits.
A Stark Reminder of Reckless Behavior
The death of Nancy Mchuan remains one of Brooklyn’s most haunting and tragic accidental shootings. What began as a peaceful morning drive ended in a fatal encounter with a stray bullet from a careless act. The case is a powerful reminder of the unexpected consequences of irresponsible firearm use — even in situations that seem harmless.