New York City police, in conjunction with the Queens district attorney, conducted a two-year investigation dubbed “Operation AQtively Movin,” which resulted in the indictment last week of 23 suspected members of the notorious gang. Crips.
The indictments involve members of two subsets of the Crips street gang, one based at the Astoria Houses and the other at the Woodside Houses, who were charged with offenses including attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and possession of weapons by violent incidents. which took place in broad daylight. , and sometimes near children.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, center, announced a 28-count indictment against 23 alleged Crips gang members. (Queens District Attorney’s Office)
“Warring gangs are not just a threat to themselves, but to all of us,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “The reckless criminality we saw during the course of this investigation is the kind of lawlessness that has killed law-abiding New Yorkers caught in the crossfire of gang gun violence. Great job over the course of this long investigation, and to you I appreciate the important work they do.”
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The defendants are part of an 85-count indictment in which many of the alleged gang members were arraigned in court last week after being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and second degree criminal possession of a weapon. They face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
According to a press release from Katz, the Woodside and Astoria housing development gangs were aligned until Aug. 4, 2018, when Isiah King of Woodside Houses assaulted Djuan Price of Astoria Houses over a drug deal.
The next day, Price and his brother, Elijah Price, sought retaliation and went to Woodside Houses, armed with pistols. But the brothers couldn’t find King. Instead, they found Jaffvonta Reid, a friend of King’s and a gang member, and shot him in the leg, the prosecutor said.
The NYPD has a new way of measuring public sentiment. (iStock)
The bad blood between the gangs, according to the prosecutor, was fueled by social media and rap videos mocking the opposing side and involving more than 18 incidents of gun-related violence that resulted in attempted murder and even homicide.
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In an incident at around 6:30 p.m. on June 14, 2020, Woodside members Devine Moore and Michael Shepherd exited a warehouse and the latter fired a gun at a passing vehicle believed to be occupied. by a rival gang member. When Shepherd fired his gun, the car was next to an ice cream truck where a girl was dancing. The prosecutor said the girl covered her ears when she heard the shots.
The following day, Astoria gang members allegedly entered the Woodside development and shot Woodside gang members who were in a courtyard with residents and several young children.
The 23 alleged gang members who were charged include:
- In front Aiken, 21, of Queens, charged with second-degree conspiracy and other crimes
- Tahji Alexander, 25, of Queens, charged with second-degree conspiracy and other crimes
- Kechante Brown, 29, of Queens, who was charged with two counts of attempted murder.
- Timothy Brown, 33, of the Bronx, charged with four counts of attempted murder.
- Shalimar Carson, 33, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Kaiam Donovan, 40 of Queens who was charged with conspiracy in the second degree
- Nasir Fisher, 23, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Barkim Hicks, 28, of Queens, charged with conspiracy in the second degree
- Hakeem Jamison, 28, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Amir Jordan, 22, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Waliek McCaskill, 33, of Queens, charged with second-degree conspiracy
- Miguel Tapia, 23, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Yurhun Palacios, 27, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Djuan Price, 32, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Elijah Price, 26, of Queens, who was charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder.
- Luis Ramirez, 22, of Queens, charged with conspiracy in the fourth degree
- Milton Ribot, 22, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Sean Roberts, 27, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder.
- Michael Shepard, 27, of Queens, charged with attempted second-degree murder
- Jaheen Stephenson, 21, of Queens, charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder.
- David Wilson, 30, of Queens, charged with four counts of attempted second-degree murder.
“Since day one, public safety has been our administration’s top priority, and that’s why we’ve been working around the clock to stop gun violence and keep guns and repeat offenders off our streets,” said the New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This case is another victory in our work to remove New York’s most dangerous people from our communities. I applaud District Attorney Katz and the brave members of the NYPD for their tireless work in bringing these 23 people to justice. justice for carrying out these heinous acts that put the lives of New Yorkers, including children, at risk.
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The joint investigation was conducted by the Queens District Attorney’s office, detectives from the NYPD Violence Reduction Task Force, and the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Division.
