Dubbed “Operation Cyclone,” the takedown targeted members of the gangs Fog and Koney Sides, subsets of the 59 Brit Blood based in the community known across the city as the “People’s Playground.” According to Gonzalez, seven people were struck by shootings tied to the gang activity in just over a year’s time; four of the victims were bystanders caught in the crossfire.

The rampage turned peaceful blocks into battlefields, and not even the inside of homes provided a safe harbor from the havoc. The streets of Brooklyn, Gonzalez charged, were effectively turned into a “war” zone by the gang-bangers.

“These men were among the most dangerous people that live in our community. What makes this case unique, in my opinion, is that this gang has really enacted violence throughout the county. Typically, in our gang cases, we see shootings that happen in geographic areas, but this gang transported the mayhem throughout Brooklyn,” Gonzalez said. “These men were ready for war.”

Brooklyn gang’s bullets left homes shattered, teen paralyzed
Dubbed “Operation Cyclone,” the takedown targeted members of the gangs Fog and Koney Sides, subsets of the 59 Brit Blood based in Coney IslanPhoto by Dean Moses

In one incident, on May 30, 2025, two of the alleged gang members — identified as Kristian Blackstock and Christopher Smart — marched up to a Canarsie home and opened fire through the window at least 18 times. While nobody was injured, the bullets tore through the hole, leaving wreckage and debris in their path.

In another incident, on Nov. 30 last year, a 16-year-old boy was walking to Starbucks on Avenue J and East 16th Street at following a football game when he was caught in the crossfire and was struck in the lower back. The bullet shattered his spine, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Perhaps most disturbing of all, on April 29, Tyguan Holmes and Tamari Carmona traveled to the Flatbush Gardens Housing Complex — territory of rival gang Folk Nation — where they were allegedly on the hunt for revenge after their friend had been shot to death days earlier.

Spotting members of Folk Nation, the pair allegedly opened fire but, shirking the chaos, Holmes and fellow soldiers mistakenly shot Carmona in the back of his head, killing him instantly. In a text message to his mother, Holmes appeared to admit his responsibility.

“Somebody’s life got took,,, and I was envolved [sic],” he wrote.

This raging war turned peaceful blocks into battlefields, and not even the inside of homes were safe. Gonzalez said that on May 30, 2025, two of the alleged gang members Kristian Blackstock, Christopher Smart marched up to a Canarsie home and opened fire through the window at least 18 times.Brooklyn DA Office This raging war turned peaceful blocks into battlefields, and not even the inside of homes were safe. Gonzalez said that on May 30, 2025, two of the alleged gang members Kristian Blackstock, Christopher Smart marched up to a Canarsie home and opened fire through the window at least 18 times.Brooklyn DA Office

“Somebody’s life got took,,, and I was envolved,” he wrote.

The arrests tied to the 113-count indictment were made on May 6. 

“Across these shootings, investigators recovered more than 180 shell cases in one incident alone, 30 rounds were fired into a Brooklyn neighborhood, and behind every one of these numbers is a real victim and a real community forced to live with the consequences of this violence,” Tisch said. “This investigation was built over months by the NYPD gun violence oppression unit alongside the Brooklyn district attorney’s office detectives connected shootings across precinct lines, analyzed digital evidence, executed search warrants and helped close numerous open shooting investigations tied to these crews, and yes, we certainly did use The criminal group database as part of this investigation, nearly every defendant charged in this case is in that database.”

A gun recovered from an alleged gang member.Brooklyn DA Office The shooting that led to the death of Tamari Carmona. Brooklyn DA’s office

Police say 13 of the 15 cuffed were known to have fired in the shootings. According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, much of the gang beef was fought over social media disrespect.

“When you really look at it, it’s quite ridiculous. The motivation behind these shootings, it’s as simple as going into the ops territory and filming a video disrespecting that crew on their home turf,” Chief Kenny said. “It really shows that social media has no boundaries, and all of these shootings are basically disrespecting each other on social media.”

A recovered firearm.Photo by Dean Moses