Nine Alleged Loot Gang Members Charged In Connection With Seven Shootings

In a joint statement, Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and the New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill announced today that nine alleged members of the Brownsville-based Loot Gang have been variously charged in a 69-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted murder, weapons possession, and other charges in connection with seven separate shootings that left one innocent man dead and 13 innocent bystanders injured.

According to the indictment, the defendants, who range in age from 15 to 25, are allegedly members of the Loot Gang, based out of the Ocean Hill Houses in Brownsville, Gonzalez said.

The nine defendants are being charged in connection with 10 incidents, including seven shootings and one assault, between November 2015 and August 2016, in which one person was beaten and 14 people were shot—one fatally.

The defendants mainly targeted rival gangs, including shooting at members of Bushwick’s True Bosses Only (TBO) multiple times. In addition to Bushwick, shootings occurred in Bed-Stuy, Canarsie, Fort Greene, and Jamaica, Queens.

All the shootings allegedly occurred when Loot members were “spinning the block,” or driving through rival territories looking for rival gang members, according to the statement. Loot members were said to have used guns from a “community” stash that the gang shared.

Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Loot members allegedly agreed to commit crimes, including murder, assault, and weapons possession, in attempts to maintain dominance over their turf as well as “their social media dominance and superior positioning among budding rap artists,” the statement says.

Loot members allegedly used Facebook, text messages, telephone calls, and FaceTime to communicate about getting guns and ammunition and striking rival gangs. Loot members allegedly used public Facebook posts and music videos posted to YouTube and SoundCloud to antagonize rival gang members, boast about previous attacks on rival gangs, and showcase Loot loyalty through hand signs, clothing, and lyrics.

Loot members allegedly released a rap video on YouTube called “Rockyworld” in retaliation for the 2015 shooting death of friend Armani Hankins, who was also known as Rocky. The video featured a song about getting revenge against a rival gang called 900. A shooting that occurred on November 27, 2015 was believed to be in retaliation for Rocky’s death, according to the statement.

Some of the incidents charged in the conspiracy include:

• • • A shooting at the Rico Chimi restaurant on February 20, 2016 in Jamaica, Queens. It is alleged, that as part of the conspiracy, Dylan Cruz, dressed in all black with a red bandanna covering his face, went into the Queens restaurant at approximately 12:25am and shot at alleged rival gang member, Tysheen Gott. Gott grabbed a 33-year-old female customer standing nearby and used her as a shield. Gott was shot five times in his legs and his groin. The woman sustained three gunshot wounds to her left leg. It is alleged that Quincy Vital drove Cruz to and from the restaurant.
  • • Four separate shootings on July 4, 2016, including one early that day in which defendants Burston, Gilbert, and Vital went “spinning” in TBO territory in Bushwick. When they saw TBO members, Vital allegedly grabbed a .357 Magnum (which the gang referred to as Becky) and handed it to Gilbert, who fired at a TBO member. Later that day at approximately 9pm, the TBO member whom they targeted, shot and injured alleged Loot member, Corey Webb. At approximately 10pm, Loot members retaliated by returning to TBO territory and shooting a man in the stomach. At approximately 11:30pm, in Boss Gang territory in Bed-Stuy, Maurice Ellis, an alleged ally of TBO, reportedly fired on a crowd at an outdoor party from a grey Mazda, striking seven people.
  • • A fatal shooting on August 12, 2016. At approximately 12:40am at Wilson Avenue and Covert Street in Bushwick (TBO territory), Quincy Vital allegedly shot and killed 22-year-old, John Jay College student, Terrell Henry, outside a bodega. Henry, who had no gang affiliation, left a nearby party and went to the bodega to buy an iced tea.

The Acting District Attorney said that some of the defendants were arraigned yesterday at Brooklyn Supreme Court and held without bail. The rest will be arraigned this week.

The defendants are variously charged with first-, second-, third- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree gang assault, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first- and second-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault, and first-degree reckless endangerment. They face up to 25 years in prison on the top conspiracy count.

“This indictment underscores our commitment to prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law the violent gang members responsible for most of the senseless shootings in certain pockets of Brooklyn,” Gonzalez said. “Our targeted approach to enhancing public safety focuses on the shooters and gang leaders who drive the violence.”

“This indictment illustrates how law enforcement is taking a strong stance against violent gang members who commit these heinous acts of senseless violence against innocent victims,” Commissioner O’Neill added.