These guns, the pair said, belonged to members of a subset of Folk Nation (“Renegade Goons” and “OOs”), 22 of whom were charged in a 176-count indictment unveiled on June 25. The alleged gang members are accused of wreaking bloody havoc across Brooklyn since October 2022 through 26 separate shootings across areas such as Crown Heights and Flatbush over a three-year period.

This trail of bullets left 23 people injured and one man dead.

According to Gonzalez, the rash of gun violence broke out after Jamel Nicholson, a.k.a., “Melly Gzs,” and Lawrence Augustin, a.k.a., “Lo Bandz” were gunned down in October by rival gang 59 Brim in October 2022. Prosecutors say it sparked a tour of revenge that saw the Folk Nation subsets stalk the streets looking for victims they believed to be associated with their adversaries, and opening fire with reckless abandon.

“We used to call it spinning the block, where they would go out and just shoot any rival, but they’re actually looking for people and trying to assassinate them, and not say this is an assassination,” Gonzalez said, referring to a 2024 slaying of a 24-year-old Daequan Buckley.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez held up handguns Thursday morning, which were used in devastating shootings that left innocent people injured.Photo by Dean Moses Gov. Kathy Hochul and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez held up handguns Thursday morning, which were used in devastating shootings that left innocent people injured.Photo by Dean Moses

Gonzalez showed a video that, he says, depicts now-21-year-old Shamear Webster peering into a barbershop near Utica and Church Avenues for about 20 minutes until Buckley left the business. Webster allegedly opened fire some five times, striking him in the heart and perforating his lung.

Buckley was taken to Brookdale Hospital and pronounced dead. 

“He didn’t stand a chance. He was assassinated right there, a 24-year-old man killed just leaving a barber shop. This is the murder weapon,” Gonzalez said, lifting another handgun. “We know that this is in fact a gun that was used to kill a 24-year-old man who had just gotten his hair cut.”

Gonzalez also showed alleged gunmen Deremous Wilder and Gabriel Rhoden opening fire along Atlantic Avenue in East New York outside of a Sweet 16 party, injuring six teens, who ranged in age from 15 to 17. One of the gunmen used a handgun equipped with a laser sight.

Nine of the 22 charged are teens, and all but five of the 22 are charged with attempted murder for allegedly pulling the trigger during a shooting. 

Gonzalez showed video that he says depicted now 21-year-old Shamear Webster peering into a Utica Ave. and Church Avenue barbershop for about twenty minutes until Buckley left the business.Brooklyn DA One of the gunmen used a handgun equipped with a laser sight.Brooklyn DA

Hochul pointed out that at least one of the weapons recovered is a ghost gun, a weapon that can be 3D printed at home but fires real bullets.

“This looks like an ordinary gun. You cannot tell the difference at all, but this is what we know as a ghost gun. It’s starting to show up more and more and more in these prosecutions, because they’re untraceable. And literally, these can be manufactured at your kitchen table with a printer,” Hochul said. She recently signed legislation that will require every 3D printer sold in New York to include software that prevents it from printing gun parts.

The defendants charged in the case were arraigned on Wednesday. They were either remanded or are being held on high bail.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, “These are some of the most dangerous criminals in New York City.”
“He didn’t stand a chance. He was assassinated right there, a 24-year-old man killed just leaving a barber shop. This is the murder weapon,” Gonzalez said, lifting another handgun. “Photo by Dean Moses