About Gary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 18, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Rush
Hour Subway Shooting That Injured Two Passengers

Defendant Opened Fire on Crowded C Train,
Hitting 17-Year-Old and 52-Year-Old Passengers

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder for opening fire inside a crowded subway car during the evening rush hour, striking two passengers.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that endangered dozens of commuters and left two people injured. Firing multiple shots on a packed train showed a blatant disregard for human life, and this sentence holds the defendant accountable for his actions. We remain committed to ensuring public safety and delivering justice for victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Alexander Villafana, 22, of Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Eugene Guarino to 10 years in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder on April 8, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on November 28, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., the defendant was inside a crowded northbound C train approaching the Ralph Avenue station in Bedford-Stuyvesant when he got into a verbal altercation with a 17-year-old boy. The dispute escalated, and the defendant pulled out a gun and fired several shots, one of which struck the teen in the hand. As a 52-year-old passenger fled to an adjacent train car, he was struck in the ankle. A 9mm shell casing and fired bullets were recovered from the subway car.

The teenage victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent treatment for fractures to both hands. The older victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where a bullet fragment was removed from his fractured ankle.

Following the shooting, the defendant fled to Pennsylvania and changed his appearance. The Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended him at his home in Brooklyn on December 12, 2023.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Omar Harding, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Shooting
Father and Son Following Traffic Dispute

After Victim Asked Him to “Chill Out,” Defendant Returned with Gun And
Opened Fire on Crowded Sidewalk; Apprehended by Bystanders as He Tried to Flee

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting a man in East Flatbush, then also shooting the victim’s dad who tried to intervene. The broad daylight gun violence took place after the defendant became upset at a woman who was parking her car in a driveway, briefly blocking his vehicle, and the victim asked him to calm down.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a terrifying act of gun violence that inflicted lasting harm on a father and son and endangered everyone nearby. I commend the extraordinary bravery of the victims and the bystanders who intervened to disarm and detain the shooter. Thanks to their courage and the excellent work of my office, this dangerous individual has been held fully accountable and will no longer pose a threat to our community.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as John Miller, 34, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. The defendant, a violent felony offender, was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Jane Tully to 30 years in prison, following his conviction on two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a jury trial last month.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 12, 2022, at about 6:30 p.m., in the vicinity of East 95th Street in East Flatbush, the first victim, a then 38-year-old man, was sitting in his parked car when he heard a commotion. He stepped out and saw the defendant yelling at a neighbor who was blocking his sedan as she navigated her vehicle into her driveway. He told the defendant to “chill out,” and the defendant responded, “I’ll be back,” before driving off. The victim then went and sat on his stoop.

A short time later, the defendant returned on foot, stood in front of the victim and repeatedly said, “You were the one talking s–t.” The defendant then reached into his pocket, prompting the victim to lunge toward him to grab the gun. But the defendant managed to shoot him twice at close range, striking his back and stomach. The victim’s father, who was 63 at the time and standing by the stoop, ran over to help and was shot once in the upper thigh. A crowd formed and the father managed to pry the gun from the defendant’s hand and give it to a bystander. The defendant attempted to escape but was apprehended by the crowd and held on the ground until police arrived.

The son was taken to Kings County Hospital where he received two life-saving operations, suffered a severe complication, and underwent a high-risk procedure before he was discharged after 17 days. The father was treated in Brookdale Hospital and still suffers from numbness in his right leg and cannot walk without a cane as a result of the injury to his sciatic nerve and the lodged bullet.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Wishart and Assistant District Attorney Robert Andrea of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Manhattan Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for
Fatal Shooting of Innocent Bystander Inside Brooklyn Smoke Shop

Victim Was a Mother and Stranger to Defendant; Dog Also Killed by Gunfire

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Manhattan man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting a 36-year-old mother who was a stranger to him. The victim was struck by gunfire inside the Bedford-Stuyvesant smoke shop, where she was shopping with her dog. The dog was also killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant brazenly opened fire into a store open to the public, killing a completely innocent woman and endangering everyone inside. Today’s sentence ensures he is held accountable for this outrageous act of violence and reflects the seriousness of the harm he caused.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Namel Colon, 39, of the Lower East Side. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter on June 9, 2025, before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu, who sentenced him today to 25 years in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on January 2, 2022, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the defendant arrived by car at Salim Smoke Shop, located at 488 DeKalb Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He exited the vehicle and fired into the store, striking Jennifer Ynoa, 36, a mother of four, in the torso. Ynoa, who was inside the store with her dog and had no connection to the defendant, was transferred to The Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. The victim’s dog was also fatally shot. A second person was present in the store at the time of the shooting but was not injured.

The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended by members of the NYPD’s Violent Felony Squad on February 22, 2022.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Da Rin, of the District Attorney’s Red Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 19 Years to Life in Prison
For Murder of Deli Clerk During Flatbush Robbery

Masked Defendant Shot 20-Year-Old Victim in the Head 

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 19 years to life in prison following his guilty plea to second-degree murder for shooting a deli clerk in the head during a robbery. The defendant, who fled following the shooting, was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a cold-blooded and senseless execution of a young man who was simply doing his job. Fadhl Moosa’s life was cut short in an act of shocking violence that has devastated his family and shaken the community. Today’s sentence ensures that the defendant will be held accountable for this horrific crime, and I hope it brings some measure of justice and closure to Fadhl’s loved ones.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Ricardo Senatus, 32, of Brooklyn. He was sentenced today to 19 years to life in prison by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Dineen Riviezzo. The defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on June 24, 2025.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on December 14, 2021, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the defendant entered a deli located at 803 Flatbush Avenue, wearing a mask and armed with a firearm. He went behind the counter and pointed the firearm at the store clerk, Fadhl Moosa, 20, and demanded money from the cash register.

Furthermore, the District Attorney said, a physical struggle ensued between the defendant and the clerk and ended with the defendant shooting the victim in the head. The defendant left the store, then realized he forgot to take the money. He returned to the store, stepped over the dying victim’s body, and retrieved the money from the cash register.

The defendant fled the scene and was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey on December 20, 2021.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Fourteen Alleged 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims Gang Members Charged in
Conspiracy Indictment for Murder and Shootings in South Brooklyn

Violence Terrorized Communities in Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island;
Thirteen Charged with Attempted Murder; Two Charged with Shooting Death of a Rival

[Note: materials shown at the press conference are available here]

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, today announced that 14 alleged members of the 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims street gang were variously charged in an indictment with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, weapons possession, and related charges. In addition to the murder of a rival gang member, the defendants are variously charged in connection with 19 shooting incidents that left nine people injured – including four innocent bystanders.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “”Gun violence hit a record low last year because of strategic enforcement and gang takedowns like today’s, which removed 14 alleged shooters responsible for a staggering level of violence in Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay. These defendants allegedly carried out 19 separate shootings, murdered a rival, and wounded innocent bystanders—lawlessly endangering our communities. We’ve shown that smart, focused enforcement works, and we will continue taking bold action to keep violent criminals off our streets and protect our neighborhoods. I commend our prosecutors and the NYPD for their tireless work in bringing this case forward.”

NYPD Commissioner Tisch said, “Today’s takedown highlights the NYPD’s relentless fight against dangerous street gangs that terrorize our neighborhoods with gun violence. Thanks to the NYPD’s joint efforts with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, we removed 18 illegal firearms from the hands of criminals, including repeat, violent offenders who had no business being back out on the streets in Brooklyn.”

The defendants are being arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justices Danny Chun and Craig Walker on a 129-count indictment in which they are variously charged with second-degree murder, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and related counts. [See defendant addendum]

The District Attorney said the indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into violence committed by members and associates of the 59 Brims and Bloodhound Brims street gangs, two sets of affiliated Bloods based primarily in Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island. The investigation centered on a series of violent incidents, including a homicide and numerous non-fatal shootings in the 61st, 60th, 67th, 73rd, and 69th Precincts beginning in February 2021.

Rival gangs to the defendants include Folk Nation, FNO, WOOO, and GWAY, a subset of the Gorilla Stone Bloods, according to the investigation. While the rivalry between the defendants’ gangs and Folk has been longstanding, it intensified after the April 29, 2021 homicide of Bloodhound Brim member Davonte Lewis, a.k.a. Dior, outside his high school in Midwood, and has grown into a years-long war.

It is alleged that the 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims defendants signaled their intent to murder opposition gang members through music videos, recorded jail conversations, cellphone evidence, and Facebook and Instagram posts. Text messages among the defendants allegedly indicates their intent to not just intimidate their rivals but to murder or seriously wound them. One such text message conversation following a May 29, 2022 shooting that resulted in no injuries criticized the shooters for failing to place the intended victims in “critical condition” like they were supposed to.

On May 2, 2021, three days after the homicide of Davonte Lewis, defendant Karon Evans and others allegedly went into rival Folk territory in the vicinity of 3405 Foster Avenue in the 67th Precinct and Evans allegedly shot a rival Folk gang member multiple times in the stomach. The victim survived and suffered a lacerated liver.

It is alleged that 59 Brims/Bloodhound Brims members committed numerous additional shootings during the course of the conspiracy, including the following:

• On February 8, 2022, at approximately 3:10 p.m., defendant Omogoriola Omotosho and another individual, followed a rival gang member to 2926 West 25th Street, an alleged G-WAY home base in Coney Island, and allegedly started firing handguns at the rival on the street and into the lobby which was filled with residents of all ages. No one was injured but several people had to duck to avoid the gunshots. This building, which is located in the middle of Brims territory, has been the site of three separate shootings charged in the indictment.

• On May 29, 2022, at approximately 7:45 p.m., defendant Favorite, an associate, and two unidentified individuals shot at the direction of multiple people congregating around a vehicle at the intersection of West 25th Street and Mermaid Avenue. One of the intended targets returned fire, before running into the building at 2926 West 25th Street, the alleged homebase of G-WAY. No one was injured, but several pedestrians, including a family with a young child, had to duck for cover and narrowly avoided being hit by the crossfire.

• On October 9, 2022, at approximately 7:17 p.m., in front of 2957 Avenue W, the Sheepshead Bay Houses, defendants Ware and an accomplice (who has already pleaded guilty) allegedly fired multiple rounds at a perceived rival, striking him in the arm.

• On October 31, 2022, at approximately 5:10 p.m., in front of 2932 Avenue V, the Nostrand Houses, defendants Ware and Ron Thomas allegedly shot and killed Jamel Nicholson, a Folk gang member and prominent drill rapper, and shot and injured his girlfriend, who suffered gunshot wounds to the thigh and lower abdomen. She remained in critical condition for weeks.

• On June 23, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., defendant Omotosho traveled to a sneaker store located at 9413 Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge for a release of new sneakers. He and other Brims members then spotted a rival Folk gang member inside the store. After watching the rival exit the store at 4:10 p.m., and enter a parked car, Omotosho opened fire with a handgun into the vehicle. The rival gang member was not struck, but two innocent bystanders each suffered gunshot wounds. One was inside the car and the other was waiting in line to buy sneakers.

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division Detectives Tomas Krohn and Patrick Craig under the supervision of Assistant Chief Jason Savino, Deputy Inspector Craig Edelman, Lieutenant Christopher Siani and Sergeant James Haley. The investigation was also conducted by members of Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, the 60th Precinct Squad, the 61st Precinct Squad and Detective Investigators from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Stern, Senior Assistant District Attorney Radiyah Dobre, and Assistant District Attorney Douglas Steinberg, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, Deputy Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred De Ingeniis, Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

DEFENDANT ADDENDUM:

1. Davonte Manson, 23, of Brooklyn
2. Karon Evans, 21, of Brooklyn
3. Timothy Briggs, 22, of Brooklyn
4. Antoine Favorite, 20, of Brooklyn
5. Jaquell Scales, 21, of Brooklyn
6. Omogoriola Omotosho, 21, of Brooklyn
7. Omarion Harvey, 21, of Brooklyn
8. Logan Cadore, 20, of Brooklyn
9. Jordan Thomas, 30, of Brooklyn
10. Jermel Solise, 18, of Brooklyn
11. Tashawn Ware, 19, of Brooklyn
12. Ron Thomas, 22, of Brooklyn
13. Rashiem Brown, 16, of Brooklyn
14. Albiero Garcia, 15, of Brooklyn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Fugitive Arraigned for 2017 Murder of Visiting College Student

Allegedly Shot Victim During Fight that Followed Earlier Confrontation;
Defendant’s Brother and Co-defendant Was Arrested in Texas in 2019

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man who was a fugitive from justice since 2017 has been arraigned on an indictment charging him with murder after getting arrested in Albany, NY. The defendant is charged – along with his brother – with allegedly shooting 20-year-old Justin Hackley to death in when he tried to stop a fight the defendants initiated with his friend.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This case involved the tragic death of an innocent young man with a promising future who was senselessly killed on a Brooklyn street. His relatives have been waiting for justice as his alleged killers spent years trying to evade capture. We are determined to now hold them responsible for the deadly gun violence they allegedly perpetrated. As shootings in Brooklyn reach record lows, my office will continue to ensure accountability and justice in every case.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Dean Boland, 35, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Susan Quirk on an indictment in which he is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The defendant was ordered held without bail and to return to court on February 3, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The defendant was arrested this morning in Albany by U.S. Marshals.

The defendant’s brother and co-defendant, Rasheed Boland, 32, was arrested in Texas in 2019 after living there under an assumed name. His case is pending. Both defendants were indicted in 2017, approximately two months after the homicide.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 11, 2017, Rasheed Boland was hitting on a woman, sparking a fight with her boyfriend, with a friend of the boyfriend intervening to stop it. Rasheed Boland allegedly went home, got his brother and the two of them returned to the area, each of them armed with a gun, and they started to look for the men they had fought.

At about 11:35 p.m., Hackley – who was visiting home while on a break from summer school at Delaware State University – stepped out of an Ocean Avenue building near Church Avenue, with his friend, who was the person who intervened in the earlier fight. The two brothers then allegedly crossed the street and started to pistol whip the friend. Hackley started to struggle with Rasheed Boland and was shot twice, according to the evidence. Dean Boland was disarmed by the victim’s friend and another man. Both defendants fled.

The victim was pronounced dead from gunshots at Kings County Hospital Center. Surveillance videos and DNA evidence connected the defendants to the crime, and their photos were distributed to the media. They were also featured on a number of TV shows as part of the efforts to capture them.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Daphney Gachette, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison
for Fatally Shooting 15-Year-Old Near NYCHA Playground

Defendant Fired into a Crowd of People at the Bushwick Houses

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting a 15-year-old boy at the Bushwick Houses in 2018. A 43-year-old man was also wounded by the defendant when he opened fire on a playground and into a crowded courtyard where children were present.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a despicable act of gun violence that took the life of an innocent teenage boy and left an entire family and community traumatized. Senseless shootings like this tear at the fabric of our neighborhoods, leaving lasting pain and fear. Everyone deserves to feel secure in their community, and we will continue to hold accountable those who threaten innocent lives with such brazen and callous violence.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Elijah Harris, 25, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on October 3, 2024, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on July 17, 2018, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the defendant was riding a bike on the sidewalk, near 370 and 390 Bushwick Avenue, when he took out a handgun. The defendant then fired at least nine times on a playground and into a courtyard of the Bushwick Houses where a crowd of over 15 people were gathered, including children. The defendant’s gunfire struck Kyon Jackson, 15, in the chest; another shot struck a 43-year-old man in the cheek.

Jackson, a ninth grader at Lyons Community School, was rushed to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The defendant was arrested shortly thereafter by police and the handgun was recovered.

The District Attorney thanked Intelligence Analyst Lakeisha Taylor for her assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sarah Jafari, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Joseph Tillman, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Man Arraigned for Fatally Torching Woman Sleeping Inside Subway Car

Used Shirt to Fan Flames; Caught on Video Surveillance

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a homeless man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder and related counts for allegedly setting a woman, identified as Debrina Kawam, on fire as she slept inside a subway car in Coney Island, Brooklyn, then fanning the flames with a shirt and watching her die.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “It is difficult to fathom what could lead someone to commit the atrocious and horrific murder with which this defendant is charged. My office swiftly obtained an indictment, and we are determined to exact the most severe punishment for this heinous and inhumane act. Ms. Kawam and her loved ones deserve a measure of justice and New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in the subways.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who resided in an East New York shelter. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment in which he is charged with first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The defendant was held without bail and ordered to return to court on March 12, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on December 22, 2024, at about 7:25 a.m., the victim was sleeping inside an F train that had reached its terminus at the Stillwell Avenue Station in Coney Island. Video surveillance showed the defendant, who rode the same car as the victim from Queens, use what appears to be a lighter to set fire to fabric that covered the sleeping woman.

The evidence further shows the defendant first watched from inside the car as the fire grew then used what looks like a shirt to fan it until the victim became engulfed in flames. He was then seen watching the blaze from a bench on the platform before walking away.

Police quickly identified the defendant and distributed his image to the media. Police received a tip that he was aboard an F train near the Herald Square-34th Street Station, and he was apprehended a little before 4 p.m. the same day.

The victim was declared dead at the scene and the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a combination of heat burns and smoke inhalation. She was burned beyond recognition and was identified as Ms. Kawam, originally of Toms River, New Jersey, nine days after the incident.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 6, 2025

Fugitive Indicted for Murder of 18-Year-Old in Canarsie

Extradited from Trinidad and Tobago to Face Prosecution 

 Defendant Allegedly Ambushed the Victim and Shot Him in His Vehicle

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a fugitive who fled to Trinidad and Tobago after allegedly shooting a teenager in Canarsie in 2021 has been returned to Brooklyn to faces charges in his death. Murder charges are also pending against the defendant’s girlfriend, who was arrested in 2022.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “The brutal ambush and murder of 18-year-old Sharif Richards in Canarsie was a heinous act of violence that shattered a young life and devastated a family. By extraditing the alleged perpetrator from Trinidad and Tobago, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring that this kind of callous disregard for human life is met with the full force of justice.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Anthony Regis-Ash, 24, formerly of Brooklyn. The defendant was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo on an indictment in which he is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree attempted robbery, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held without bail and to return to court on February 7, 2025. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.

A co-defendant, Amari Harvey, 24, of Brooklyn, was arrested at John F. Kennedy Airport on January 5, 2022, as she tried to board a flight to Trinidad and Tobago. She is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and first-degree attempted robbery and is being held on $1million cash bail or $2 million bond.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 29, 2021, in the vicinity of Foster Avenue and East 80th Street, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, at approximately 10:40 p.m., NYPD officers responded to 911 calls of a man shot and found the victim, Sharif Richards, next to his crashed motor vehicle with a gunshot wound to his chest. He subsequently died of the gunshot wound.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, police conducted an extensive video canvass of cameras in the area to track the victim’s movements before the shooting, which led to the discovery of the defendant’s 2015 Nissan on East 78th Street between Farragut Road and Glenwood Road, with a man and a woman in the vehicle. The woman exits the vehicle and walks down the block and allegedly meets up with Richards, who is in his 2007 Infiniti.

The video also allegedly shows the woman, later determined to be co-defendant Amari Harvey, gets into the vehicle and a minute later the defendant, wearing a hoodie and a mask, is seen leaning into Richards vehicle in an alleged attempt to rob him. He allegedly then shoots Richards in the chest and Richards drives off and crashes a few blocks away. The woman exits the vehicle and leaves the scene with the defendant.

As part of the investigation, phone records and text messages were reviewed and revealed prior communications between Richards and the woman, as well as Richards and the defendant.

The District Attorney thanked our law enforcement partners who made this international fugitive apprehension possible, including the New York City Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Department of Justice, the State Department, and the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Joseph Mancino and Michael Diamond, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Brooklyn Had the Fewest Shootings and Shooting Victims on Record,
Beating Pre-Pandemic Lows; Murders and Serious Crime Down by Some 6%

Shootings Decreased by 15%, Shooting Victims by 14% Compared to Previous Year,
Improving on Previous Record Low from 2019; Shooting Homicides Went Down by 16%

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that 2024 marked the safest year for gun violence in Brooklyn’s history, with the fewest shooting incidents and shooting victims besting previous lows from 2019. Shootings decreased by 15%, shooting victims by 14%, and homicides by 6% compared to 2023. Total serious crime was down by 5.9%. This historic progress was achieved as the DA’s Office tried an increased number of cases, notching a high trial conviction rate; enhanced resources to address cryptocurrency scams; and continued its exemplary work of correcting wrongful convictions, exonerating the 40^th individual in the span of a decade.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Brooklyn continues to get safer year after year and we’re now the safest we’ve ever been in terms of gun violence, with shootings and shooting victims reaching record lows. Murders and other serious crime declined as well in 2024 as we return to pre-pandemic levels. This tremendous success is a testament to the productive partnerships between my office, the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners; to the technological investments we’ve made in crime-solving tools; and to our comprehensive approach that uses preventative measures and community-centered strategies to reduce shootings. While we still have much work to do, I am optimistic that we will keep building on this progress into 2025 and beyond.”

The District Attorney said that there were 287 shooting incidents in Brooklyn this year, down 51 or 15% compared to the 338 in 2023. This is the lowest number since record keeping began, improving on the 290 shootings recorded in 2019. There were 54 fewer shooting victims – 345 compared to 399, or down 14%. That’s 18 fewer victims from the previous low of 363, also recorded in 2019. Shooting related homicides dropped from 85 in 2022 and 75 in 2023 to only 63 this year (a 16% drop compared to last year). These milestones came after the safest summer in Brooklyn, when shootings between June and August dropped by 11%. They are part of an ongoing trend of shootings and shooting victims in Brooklyn declining year after year since the 2020 spike amid a global pandemic and social unrest.

There were eight fewer murders this year compared to last, or a 6% decline. Besides the 63 shooting deaths, there were 29 fatal stabbings and 11 blunt force killings. Homicides significantly decreased in neighborhoods including East New York (down 11 or 48%), East Flatbush (down 7 or 41%), and Fort Greene (down 3 or 50%). Total index crimes, which aggregates the most serious felonies, were down 5.9% in 2024 compared to the previous year with decreases in robberies, burglaries, grand larcenies and grand theft auto (rapes and felony assaults ticked up). [All stats are based on the NYPD’s Compstat report as of today.]

The District Attorney said that there were 113 trials in Supreme Court this year, resulting in 101 convictions and 12 acquittals for an impressive 89% trial conviction rate. One notable trial resulted in the convictions and lengthy prison sentences of four gang members for a series of shootings and homicides, one of which claimed the life of 1-year-old Davell Gardner Jr. Another trial resulted in a jail sentence against a construction company owner whose shoddy work led to a wall collapse that killed 5-year-old Alysson Pinto-Chaumana.

In 2024, the Brooklyn DA’s Office made groundbreaking strides in the fight against cryptocurrency scams and other cyber frauds. With a new Cyber Currency Unit, the office is disrupting numerous schemes that target residents of all stripes – including operations in the Russian and Chinese communities – with sophisticated methods aimed at fraudulently separating people from their money. The unit dismantled more than 20 domains linked to scams targeting dating site users, shut down about 140 domains connected to fake investment opportunities that preyed on Russian speakers, and another 40 domains connected to an NFT fraud targeting artists. Beyond using innovative techniques to disrupt these criminal operations, the DA’s Office has launched an educational campaign with seminars throughout Brooklyn, flyers and media appearances to inform the public and share warning signs and tips to avoid these devastating financial crimes.

Brooklyn’s Conviction Review Unit cemented its status as a national gold standard by exonerating the 40^th individual since its creation in 2014 — surpassing the 34 exonerations recommended by all other DA’s offices in the city combined during the same period and ranking among the highest of any DA’s office nationwide. The critical work of the unit continues into 2025.

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