More Gang Graffiti Found On Walls Of 86th Street Marshalls
More gang-related graffiti has been spotted around the neighborhood, this time on the walls of Marshalls on 86th Street near Bay 19th Street.
The white markings read “86 LRZ” and in smaller letters “La Raza” referring to an 86th Street branch of the Mexican La Raza gang that dominates Coney Island.
A tipster, who asked to remain anonymous, send us the above photo after reading our report about tags associated with Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Sureños (SUR 13) gangs found up and down New Utrecht Avenue.
A revealing article in El Diario, translated by CUNY Graduate School of Journalism’s Voices of New York, describes the how Mexican teens are inducted, or “baptized,” into local gangs, that have been on the rise in neighboring communities like Sunset Park, Coney Island, and Brighton Beach. A Youtube video published two years ago appears to show a member of La Raza 86 getting “baptized,” or beaten up, by three other La Razas in Coney Island.
It is unclear if the 86th Street group is involved in any serious criminal activity. Incoming NYPD 62nd Precinct captain Anthony Sanseverino told Bensonhurst Bean last week that police believe there is no gang activity in Bensonhurst, but promised to take “a fresh look” in light of the recent graffiti.
The NYPD currently offers a $500 award for information leading to a graffiti arrest.
Update [3:40pm]: In the wake of Sunday night’s gunshots on New Utrecht Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway, that struck a parked car and second-story window, Sanseverino told Bensonhurst Bean that the precinct is working to gather intelligence about local crime and identify a gang presence if there is one.
“Over the years, people have been targeted as gang members, but we are trying to figure out who is a problem,” he said. “We don’t have anyone as of now. I’m still waiting for a witness to tell me ‘hey, that guy’s in a gang.’ We are talking to everyone and trying to put the pieces together.”
Though there were no casualties, Sanseverino said police are treating the incident as a shooting.