Two murders, multiple shootings, 18 gang members charged

The defendants were arraigned Wednesday afternoon before Supreme Court Justices Danny Chun and Craig Walker on an 85-count indictment. The charges include second-degree murder, conspiracy, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, assault and related offenses.

The indictment follows a long-term investigation by the District Attorney's Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau and the NYPD's Gun Violence Suppression Division. The investigation focused on gang violence along the Crown Heights-Bedford-Stuyvesant border in Brooklyn. Fifteen defendants are alleged members of the H-Block/Billy's gang, a territorial alliance between the 59-Brim Bloods and the 9-Trey/Billy's Bloods operating out of Crown Heights. The gang's “bases” include 260-280 Herkimer St. and 1625 Fulton St.

Three other defendants are alleged members of the Gates Fam street gang, a subset of the Bloods with territory in the Louis Armstrong Houses and 523 Gates Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

The indictment alleges that H-Block/Billy members conspired to murder rival gang members, often boasting or discussing their plans on social media, recording conversations in jail and on cell phones . They allegedly possessed photos and videos of themselves with guns and discussed guns in their posts.

Beginning in August 2021, the H-Block/Billy's defendants allegedly committed multiple shootings and acts of violence to maintain their dominance over their territory. The violence began with three shootings in two hours, killing 16-year-old Gates family member Jaquan Gause and injuring three others, including an innocent bystander.

The second homicide charged is the June 25, 2022, shooting death of 16-year-old Nayshawn Campbell, an associate of Woo. Campbell was shot in the torso inside Dr. Green Playground in Brownsville by H-Block members Nyshaun Perry, Demetri Jean Jacques and Isaiah Charles.

Several other notable alleged incidents included in the indictment include that on April 12, 2022, where Malcolm Davis and Shamari Griffith allegedly opened fire on Gates Fam territory, injuring three innocent people. On August 18, 2022, Nyshaun Perry and Jamouri Foster allegedly shot up a Dodge Charger in Folk Nation gang territory. On August 21, 2022, Isaiah Charles, Demetri Jean Jacques and an unidentified individual allegedly opened fire on a video shoot on Lincoln Fam territory, injuring a videographer.

On October 2, 2023, Gates Fam member David Robinson allegedly attempted to run over H-Block member Michael Hammond with his car. Hammond responded by shooting Robinson, wounding him.