Thirty-two alleged Queens gang members had been indicted in what prosecutors referred to as the most important takedown of a single crew within the borough’s historical past.
The alleged gangbangers — ranging in age from 15 to 24 — had been members of the Unhealthy-Co Ballout gang and lorded over Queens Village with a marketing campaign of terror and brazen violence they often even bragged about on social media, the Queens District Legal professional alleged.
“The violence related to this group is really staggering,” DA Melinda Katz stated at a press convention because the indictments had been handed down Thursday, explaining that at the least 13 deadly shootings had been allegedly linked to the gang in a year-long investigation.
“These defendants have turn into probably the most violent gang within the borough of Queens County, creating worry and violence all through this borough,” she added.
The gang was allegedly led by 21-year-old Jahvon “Shady” Attapoku, who allegedly gave orders about who ought to kill whom and when, and allegedly armed gangs of native teenagers.
Attapoku lived in Queens Village, and the neighborhood was recognized throughout the gang as “Shadyville,” prosecutors stated.
And the crimes he allegedly meted out tended to erupt in broad daylight and depart harmless bystanders of all ages severely wounded and even lifeless.
Daylight shootings would happen at native fast-food eating places, busy intersections and close to colleges, with bullets peppering passing automobiles and houses.
“Make no mistake. This group didn’t care whether or not they had been capturing at busy intersections, whether or not they had been capturing by colleges, playgrounds or very close to residential houses or condominium buildings,” Katz stated.
One defendant, 20-year-old Sean Chang, even earned the nickname “Broad Day” for his alleged willingness to open hearth in broad daylight.
Different alleged gangsters included Mekhi “Scarfaxe” Hooi, 21; Jeff “Havoc” Jospeh, 21; Michael “Smoccey” Raly, 21; Shayne “Gotti Sleeze” Sheppard, 18; Jujharbeer “Juggz” Singh, 18; and Anthony “Ant” Crawford, 19, amongst others.
One heinous crime allegedly related with the gang occurred in September 2024, when a then-15-year-old defendant obtained right into a battle with a rival gang member close to a busy intersection and began capturing.
Two of the bullets hit 66-year-old grandfather William Alcindor, who was driving by, inflicting him to wreck and crash right into a 23-year-old feminine who was sitting on the sidewalk.
“Mr. Alcindor died from a gunshot wound to his brow and to his chest. The 23-year-old girl suffered a head trauma, a collapsed lung, and continues to be having mobility points because of the decrease physique trauma she suffered within the crash,” Katz stated.
“That is the very definition of mindless violence that produced harmless victims as nicely. Individuals don’t have anything to do with it,” the DA added.
The defendants had been charged with 97 counts starting from homicide, tried homicide, gun expenses, conspiracy and different expenses. Six of the defendants face life in jail.
“For years, the members of those rival gangs terrorized communities in Queens, turning neighborhoods into their very own lethal playgrounds after which bragging about it on social media,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
“They wished credit score for the shootings they carried out, and right this moment, we’re completely happy to present it to them. Utilizing focused enforcement and precision policing, the NYPD investigators did the harmful work wanted to cease this violence.
“Because of them, Queens is considerably safer right this moment.”
