18 people arrested in gang crackdown face murder charges

A major crackdown on gangs in Brooklyn has led to the arrests of 18 suspected gang members, many of whom are minors.

“Most of the defendants in this case were teenagers when they allegedly committed the crimes charged against them. Some of them were as young as 16, 15 or 14 years old,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, the suspects were arrested in connection with 12 shootings, including two fatalities.

“These two murder victims were only 16 years old when they lost their lives,” Gonzalez said.

At least 15 firearms were recovered during this years-long investigation. Authorities say the other shootings injured 10 people, including eight innocent bystanders.

“The complete disregard for human life and the unnecessary suffering of community members who were trying to enjoy their lives safely,” Gonzalez said.

Members of two Bloods-linked gangs – known respectively as H-Block and Nine Train Billy, who prosecutors say have a territorial alliance between them – were named in the 85-count indictment of accusation.

“These defendants just don’t care,” Gonzalez said. “They shoot indiscriminately every time they think an opposing gang member is in the area. Without thinking for a moment about the damage and trauma they are causing to their own community.”

Gonzalez said the violence began in August 2021, when the two Bloods gangs allegedly started a turf war with rival gangs. Investigators said the H-Block team opened fire on another gang, killing a 16-year-old suspected gang member and wounding three others, including a bystander.

“This shooting sparked a series of retaliatory shootings and many of those shootings are now part of this indictment,” Gonzalez said.

Investigators said suspects often posted information about their crimes on social media, making it easier to track them down and ultimately arrest them. Gonzalez issued a stern warning to those considering committing similar acts of violence.

“If you shoot a gun in our community, we will prosecute you and send you to jail,” Gonzalez said.

The defendants face charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons possession.