Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrests of 36 alleged members of two rival Brooklyn gangs that have been responsible for dozens of shootings.
The warring gangs, the Wooos and the Choos, have been accused of trading gunfire that victimized 11 people in all, including one who later died as a result of his injuries.
“In a lot of these shootings, the gang was shooting back and forth at each other,” said DA Gonzalez.
“Of the 36 indicted today, many have a previous arrest connected to a firearm,” said Tisch. “Nineteen of them have two or more previous gun arrests.”
The defendants, ranging in age from 16 to 27, were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to possess weapons, and other related charges including murder, attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and weapons possession. The DA said they have been terrorizing residents for years.
“Twelve times bullets went into people’s homes. Sometimes they were on the first floor, other times the sixth floor. It didn’t matter — they were not safe from this violence,” said Gonzalez. “One was a 69-year-old man simply taking out the trash.”
Gonzalez hopes the major takedown will help decrease gun violence in Brownsville and other parts of the city. He showed video of a gang assault that took place in downtown Brooklyn right outside courthouses, which was recorded and posted on social media by rival gang members. Also shared was a shooting between gang members that happened in a subway station.
Gonzalez said the arrests were made after a three-year investigation.
“The NYPD took 36 firearms off the streets including a .9-mm ghost gun,” said Tisch. “Part of the 1,300 firearms our officers have removed so far this year.”
“This is crazy that people living in their homes, not outside, cannot be safe from this gun violence.” added Gonzalez.