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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Two Brooklyn Men Indicted for Attempted Murder in Alleged
July Fourth Mass Shooting That Wounded 8, Including 4 Children

Eight Family Members Shot During Family Barbecue in Coney Island;
Youngest Victim’s Puppy Was Struck in Head and Killed

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two Brooklyn men have been indicted on attempted murder and other charges in connection with a mass shooting at a family Fourth of July barbecue in Coney Island. The shooting left eight people, including four children, wounded. A 10-week-old puppy belonging to the youngest victim was shot in the head and killed.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants are allegedly responsible for unleashing a barrage of gunfire into a courtyard packed with families celebrating the Fourth of July, striking eight people—including four children—and killing a six-year-old boy’s puppy. The fact that no person was killed is extraordinary, but it does not diminish the alleged recklessness and brutality of this attack. We will now seek to hold both defendants fully accountable for the devastation they are accused of causing.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Robert Smith, 44, and Kevin Blunt, 44, both of Coney Island. They are charged together in an 88-count indictment with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree attempted assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. Smith was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun and was ordered held without bail and to return to court on October 14, 2026. Blunt was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin on August 3, 2026, and was ordered held without bail and to return to court on August 19, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on July 4, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m., approximately 50 people were gathered for a family barbecue in the courtyard of a residential building near Surf Avenue and West 30^th Street in Coney Island when the defendants allegedly approached. It is alleged that Smith fired attempted to fire into the barbecue, and when the gun appeared to jam, Blunt helped clear it, allowing Smith to fire approximately 15 shots into the crowd.

Eight people were struck by gunfire, including four boys, ages six, seven, 12 and 14, and four adults, ages 21, 25, 33 and 37. The victims were taken to local hospitals, where the 21-year-old woman was initially listed in critical condition and the remaining victims were in stable condition. Additionally, the six-year-old victim’s 10-week-old puppy, Sky, was shot in the head and killed.

According to the investigation, surveillance footage allegedly captured the shootings and the defendants’ actions before, during and after the attack. Smith was apprehended by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 8, 2026, in the confines of the 60^th Precinct. Blunt was subsequently apprehended by the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force in the confines of the 84^th Precinct.

The District Attorney thanked Detective Omar Santiago of the Brooklyn South Video Team and Detective Andrew Noto of the 60^th Precinct Detective Squad for their assistance in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Adam Ghalmi and Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Oliver, of the District Attorney’s Green Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief and overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney Joseph Alexis, Chief of the District Attorney’s Trial Division.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Brooklyn Had the Fewest Homicides in Any Month Ever This July
As Gun Violence Continues to Decline from Historic Lows

Marking Today’s National Night Out Against Crime After the Longest Murder-Free
Stretch in Brooklyn History; Only Two Homicides Committed in July

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that Brooklyn recorded just two homicides in July, tying the record from this January for the fewest killings in any calendar month. Brooklyn then went 29 consecutive days without a murder — the longest such streak on record. This unprecedented achievement punctuates an ongoing and historic decline in violent crime with homicides dropping by over a third so far this year compared to last year’s record-breaking low.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “For New York City’s most populous borough to go 29 consecutive days without a murder, during the summer months when violence has historically been at its highest, is an extraordinary achievement that would have been almost unimaginable just a few years ago. Brooklyn is experiencing a genuine public safety renaissance, driven by focused enforcement, strong prosecutions, community partnership and sustained investments in preventing violence before it occurs. We are proud of this progress, and we remain determined to bring the same safety and stability to every neighborhood in Brooklyn.”

The District Attorney said that there was a homicide in Brooklyn on July 1 and another on July 2. There were no murders since then until a woman was found dead in a suspected domestic incident on August 1. That 29-day stretch is the longest period of no killings in Brooklyn’s modern history. Historically, the highest levels of homicides take place during the summer months. The previous record was 24 days in October 2016. The only other month with just two murders was January of this year. The only months with three homicides on record were December 2025 and February 2026. Typically, the highest levels of homicides take place during the summer months.

[Note that these stats exclude homicides that were reclassified from previous years; the rest of the numbers in this release are based on the NYPD’s Compstat report which includes two additional reclassified murders this year.]

So far in 2026, homicides in Brooklyn are down 37% and shooting incidents are down 16%. Notably, the 22 fewer homicides in Brooklyn compared to this time last year make up 47% of the citywide decline in homicides. The 24 fewer shooting incidents in Brooklyn make up 85% of the citywide decline in shootings to date.

All other major crime categories, except for reported rape, are also on the decline in Brooklyn this year, including a 14% drop in burglaries, 12.5% in grand theft auto and 10% in robberies. Reported hate crimes have decreased by over 21%.

The Brooklyn DA’s Office is employing a comprehensive Stop Violence strategy to end gun violence in Brooklyn, which includes focus on the individuals who cause the most harm, long-term investigations of gang and firearm trafficking, investments in technology, enhanced attention to gun prosecutions, community partnerships, alternative and preventative programs, engagement with youth, outreach initiatives and more.

In recent months, the DA’s Office secured three major gang indictments: against two rival Brownsville gangs in April, two allied crews from Coney Island in May, and two Folk Nation subsets in June. It also relaunched Project Restore, a groundbreaking violence prevention program for gang-involved young men, and hosted a successful gun buyback where nearly 200 weapons were turned over, a student-led youth summit on safety, and an anti-gun violence rally. It additionally took part in a youth listening tour, among other events, and have promoted peace across Brooklyn.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Brooklyn Mother Sentenced to 20 Years to Life in Prison

For Killing Her Three Children

Woman Drowned Children in the Ocean off the Coney Island Boardwalk

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn woman has been sentenced for drowning her three children – who were three-months-old, four-years-old, and seven-years-old – in the ocean near their home in Coney Island.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Zachary, Liliana and Oliver were innocent children whose lives were taken in the most heartbreaking and unthinkable way. No sentence can fully measure the loss of a seven-year-old, a four-year-old and a three-month-old baby, or the grief their loved ones will carry forever. We sought the strongest possible accountability in this devastating case, and while nothing can bring these children back, this sentence ensures the defendant will be held responsible for taking their lives.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Erin Merdy, 34, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to 20 years to life in prison, over the objection of prosecutors. The defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder on March 4, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on September 12, 2022, at approximately 12:37 a.m., the defendant took her three children – Zachary Merdy, 7, Liliana Stephens Merdy, 4, and Oliver Bondarev, 3 months – to the beach near West 35^th Street in Coney Island and drowned them in the ocean.

At approximately 1:25 a.m., she began walking from the beach, alone, towards the apartment of the father of the youngest child, located in Brighton Beach, over two miles away. The defendant called family members upset, and when she would not answer questions regarding the whereabouts of her children, relatives and the father went to look for her and called 911.

The police initiated a search and, at about 4:30 a.m., located the children, who were unresponsive and wet, on the shoreline near West 35^th Street. They were pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. When the defendant’s family members found her in Brighton Beach wet and barefoot, she repeatedly said that the children were gone and that she was sorry, according to the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ernest Chin, Deputy Chief 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

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 25 Years to Life in Prison for Killing Girlfriend,

Firing at Second Victim Inside East Flatbush Home

Defendant Shot Victim Multiple Times, Then Fired Through Door as Others Hid with Infant

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting his 49-year-old girlfriend inside their East Flatbush home, then turning the gun on others in the house as they hid in a bedroom with a newborn baby.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Jacqueline Wilson was shot to death inside her own home and others, including a terrified family with a six-week-old baby, were forced to barricade themselves to survive. This was a senseless act of violence and I hope today’s sentence brings some measure of solace to the family, who endured unthinkable pain and trauma at the hands of this defendant.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Peter Hibbert, 51, of East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Warin to 25 years to life in prison. The defendant was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on March 18, 2026, following a jury trial.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on May 7, 2023, at approximately 2:55 a.m., inside a residence on East 96^th Street in East Flatbush, the defendant shot Jacqueline Wilson, 49, multiple times, killing her. The defendant and the victim had been in a relationship for approximately three years and lived together in the home.

Also inside the home at the time were the victim’s adult daughter, her husband and their newborn baby. After shooting Wilson, the defendant pointed a handgun at the couple and fired toward them as they fled into a bedroom and shut the door. Two bullets pierced the door as the couple barricaded themselves inside with the infant while waiting for police. Neither the couple nor their baby were hit by gunfire.

The defendant was discovered by police shortly after the shooting sleeping in the basement of the home and was arrested.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Farin Chasin-Fodeman and Assistant District Attorney Victoria Mulhern, of the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Kori Medow, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, April 13, 2026

Two Men Sentenced to 45 Years to Life in Prison

Defendants Convicted of Ambush Murder of Alleged Rival in Clinton Hill,
In Retaliation for the Shooting Death of a 900 Gang Member Days Earlier

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that two men affiliated with the violent 900 street gang have each been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for the murder of one man and the shooting of two innocent bystanders.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These defendants walked into a housing complex in the middle of the afternoon, opened fire, took a life, wounded innocent bystanders and put others at risk. Gun violence is at record lows in Brooklyn precisely because the NYPD and our prosecutors relentlessly focus on the drivers of crime such as these defendants, whose pointless and retaliatory gun violence led to far too much bloodshed. Today’s sentences ensure justice for victims and make Brooklyn safer.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Alexander Williams, 29, of Brownsville, Brooklyn and Wydeem Rudd, 26, of the Bronx. The defendants were sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Donald Leo to 45 years to life in prison. The defendants were convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree attempted assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon on November 25, 2025, following a jury trial.

On September 8, 2020, at approximately 3:39 p.m., according to the evidence, Alexander Williams, member of the 900 gang, requested a cab from Rainbow Car Service to pick him up in Brownsville, then to stop along the route to pick up Wydeem Rudd, a 900 associate. The cab dropped the defendants at Clifton and Franklin Avenues, near the Lafayette Gardens housing development in Clinton Hill.

The defendants, wearing hoods and masks, walked through Lafayette Gardens, entered the rear of 456 DeKalb Avenue, and then walked to the front of the building. The defendants then ambushed Tylee Felder, 24, who was standing in front of the building. Rudd and Williams shot Felder six times, including in the head, killing him. Rudd then fired into a crowd outside of the building, shooting and wounding two innocent bystanders, a 23-year-old man and a 24-year-old man.

The defendants then fled through the rear of the building and were captured on several surveillance videos. Both removed their sweatshirts, revealing unique arm tattoos. Rudd also removed his mask.

The case was investigated by detectives from the New York City Police Department’s Gun Violence Suppression Division, the 79^th Precinct Detective Squad, and the Brooklyn North Homicide Squad.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Ford and Senior Assistant District Attorney Fabiola Marrufo, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, with assistance from Forensic Digital Analyst Kelly Crawford and Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Sourov Talulkder, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, and under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, First Deputy Bureau Chief of VCE, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, January 23, 2026

Woman Without New York Medical License Indicted for Recklessly Performing High-Risk Medical Procedure out of Sheepshead Bay Salon

Defendant Allegedly Performed Brazilian Butt Lift that Nearly Killed Woman

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a woman who held herself out as a physician has been indicted for recklessly performing a high-risk medical procedure commonly known as a “Brazilian butt lift” without the required medical license to do so, causing a 46-year-old woman to suffer a life-threatening infection and severe injuries.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is accused of deceiving a victim by falsely presenting herself as though she were licensed to practice medicine and conducting a high-risk surgery she was not legally qualified to perform. The alleged conduct left the victim with life-threatening injuries and required extensive medical care. My office will aggressively prosecute anyone pretending to be a medical professional and putting New Yorkers’ lives in danger.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Nargiza Shukurova, 39, of Uzbekistan. She was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on an indictment charging her with second-degree assault, third-degree assault, unauthorized practice of a profession, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree reckless endangerment. Bail was set at $25,000 cash or $200,000 bond and the defendant was ordered to return to court on March 25, 2026.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, in all plastic surgery, the Brazilian butt lift (“BBL”) must be performed with the greatest of care, as it has the highest mortality rate of any cosmetic surgery procedure. The defendant advertised on social media, using the title “Dr. Nargiza” and “Dr. Nargis,” offering “butt enlargement, buttocks shape correction” and “Barbie lips,” among other services, with before and after photographs. The defendant did not have a license to practice medicine in New York State and was not authorized to perform a BBL.

The investigation further revealed that the defendant allegedly performed a BBL on the victim on May 7, 2023, at Fleur de Beaute Salon, which was located in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn and was not a New York State authorized surgical facility. The defendant did not take the victim’s medical history or perform a basic physical exam, and did not follow standard surgical procedures.

In the following days, the victim began to experience severe medical complications, including a life-threatening infection. As the victim’s infection worsened, the defendant allegedly discouraged the victim from seeking immediate medical treatment and instead attempted to manage the victim’s rapidly declining condition herself.

Almost three weeks after the BBL, the victim lost consciousness in her home and her family rushed her to a local hospital where she underwent approximately a dozen surgeries over two months to treat an infection that nearly killed her. During her hospital stay, the defendant allegedly left messages on the victim’s phone begging her to lie to hospital personnel about the procedure and not reveal her identity.

The defendant was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on a Kings County warrant on January 9, 2026.

The District Attorney thanked Digital Forensic Analyst Richard Rojas, of the District Attorney’s Digital Evidence Lab, Intelligence Analyst Veranika Basak, of the Investigations Division, and Detective Investigators from the KCDA Detective Bureau for their assistance on the case as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laura Neubauer, Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica White, of the Frauds Bureau. The case was investigated by now retired Chief of the Healthcare Fraud Unit, Maria Leonardi and ADA Jessica White, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Michel Spanakos, Deputy Chief of the Investigations Division and Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

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

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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Coney Island Man Arraigned for Brooklyn Slashing Spree

That Left Three Seriously Wounded

Victims Suffered Deep Facial and Neck Wounds in Unprovoked Attacks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Coney Island man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is accused of a series of violent, unprovoked attacks that left three men with serious injuries. The defendant was also linked to a burglary and arson inside a nearby residential building, where he allegedly set multiple fires before fleeing.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “These were terrifying, unprovoked assaults that brutalized three innocent men and could have killed someone. Brooklyn is safer today than it has been in decades, with homicides and gun violence at record lows, and we will not allow anyone to undermine that hard-won progress. My office will pursue this case aggressively to ensure accountability and protect the public.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Odyssey Head, 27, of Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter on an indictment charging him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree arson and other related counts. The defendant was ordered held without bail, to undergo a psychiatric exam and to return to court on January 21, 2026. 

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on October 25, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., aboard a northbound Q train near Cortelyou Road and E. 16^th St. in Flatbush, the defendant allegedly randomly slashed a 37-year-old man with a razor blade from lip to cheek, causing a deep facial wound that required multiple stitches.

Later that same day, at approximately 10 p.m., a 53-year-old man was standing at the corner of Foster Avenue and New York Avenue in East Flatbush when the defendant allegedly approached and slashed him across the left side of his face from eye to ear with a knife, causing a deep laceration. The victim required 25 stitches to close the wound.

Furthermore, it is alleged that the next day, on October 26, 2025, a 56-year-old man was walking on Newkirk Avenue in East Flatbush when the defendant slashed him across the neck without warning, narrowly missing an artery. He required more than a dozen stitches.

According to the investigation, that same weekend, on October 25, 2025, the defendant allegedly broke into a residential building on New York Avenue in Flatbush, where he damaged property and set fire to items inside the basement laundry area. He then allegedly walked to the first-floor trash compactor room and ignited additional items before fleeing.

The defendant was arrested after police circulated a wanted flyer for the arson incident and subsequently identified him as the individual allegedly responsible for the three slashings. At the time of his arrest, officers recovered a kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attacks.

The District Attorney thanked St. Paul Community Baptist Church, the Oyate Group, Junior’s Restaurant and local elected officials for their assistance in providing donations and in promoting the event.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Holly Hay and James Buchsbaum, of the District Attorney’s Blue Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Douglas Marquez, Deputy Bureau Chief and Assistant District Attorney Kin Ng, Bureau Chief.

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

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Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Crown Heights Man Sentenced to 23 Years to Life in

Prison for Murder of Brooklyn Mother

Defendant Fatally Attacked Victim Outside Her Home

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 47-year-old Crown Heights man has been sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Jennifer Rodriguez. The victim was killed outside her home in Crown Heights on the day of her young son’s birthday.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This was a brutal and cowardly attack that stole the life of Jennifer Rodriguez on what should have been a day of joy for her family. Her children will now grow up without a mother, a loss that can never be repaired. While nothing can undo that pain, today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable and ensures he will spend years in prison for this horrific crime. Thanks to the dedication of our prosecutors, working with the NYPD, violent crime in Brooklyn continues to decline, and we remain steadfast in protecting our communities and seeking justice for victims.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Antoine Thompson, 47, of Crown Heights. He was convicted of second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon on July 28, 2025, following a jury trial. The defendant was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Phyllis Chu to 23 years to life in prison.

The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, on August 31, 2021, at approximately 2:40 p.m., the defendant attacked Jennifer Rodriguez outside her home on Belmont Avenue and Georgia Avenue in Crown Heights, slashing and stabbing her in the throat, arm and torso with a sharp object, causing fatal injuries. Rodriguez died from her wounds shortly thereafter. The victim and the defendant were known to each other from past interactions.

The defendant fled to North Carolina but later returned to Brooklyn. He was arrested on October 18, 2021.

The District Attorney thanked Homicide Paralegal Angelika Rostkowska, Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab Alexandra Aber and Victim Advocate Shannel Pichardo for their assistance in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Evan Hannay, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Senior Assistant District Attorney Ashley Thompson, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Homicide Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Rapper and Gang Leader Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

For Directing and Participating in Gang Shootings

Michael Williams, a.k.a. Rapper Sheff G, Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Murder

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a rapper and gang member known as Sheff G was sentenced to five years in state prison following his guilty plea to attempted murder and conspiracy. The defendant was a leading member among 32 purported members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliate, the 9 Ways gang, who were named in a 140-count indictment for allegedly committing shootings, possessing guns, and using stolen cars while shooting at gang rivals.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future. Together with the NYPD, we have driven gun violence in Brooklyn to record lows by focusing on dangerous individuals, like Mr. Williams and his cohorts. I can only hope that this measure of accountability will lead him to taking a different path and using his influence in a positive manner.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael Williams, 27, known as Sheff G. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision in accordance with a Court plea offer under which he pleaded guilty in March to two top counts of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree conspiracy.

Justice Chun last week also sentenced an associate, Tegan Chambers, a rapper known as Sleepy Hallow, to one year in jail following his guilty plea to fourth-degree conspiracy. 

Twenty-three of the other defendants have previously pleaded guilty and seven cases are pending against the remaining defendants.

The District Attorney said that the indictment in this case was 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 shootings and gun possession incidents allegedly committed by members of the 8 Trey Crips and its affiliates, the 9 Ways gang, primarily in the 67^th and 71^st Precincts.

Many of the acts of violence were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal activities on social media and in text messages, discussing acts of violence and taking credit for shootings and an assault.

The most egregious incident charged in the indictment was a mass shooting on Hawthorne Street on October 21, 2020, at approximately 10:15 p.m. It is alleged that defendant Kamondre Dekattu was captured on surveillance video emerging from the sunroof of a white Infiniti and opening fire while other individuals fired guns from the driver’s side and rear driver’s side windows. An alleged Folk Nation rival, Theodore Senior, 23, was killed and five other alleged Folk Nation members were shot and injured. Dekattu was charged with the murder; his co-conspirators, including Michael Williams, were charged with being part of the conspiracy to commit murder for this incident and others.

In particular, approximately an hour after the mass shooting, Williams sent a text message seeking confirmation that the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways had scored against rivals. In separate messages, he sent pictures of the victim and a news article about the incident and other shootings that preceded the homicide that day.

Two days after the homicide, Williams hosted a lavish dinner with his fellow 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways members, including Tegan Chambers, at a Manhattan steakhouse to celebrate the death of Theodore Senior and the injuries sustained to the five other shooting victims.

Furthermore, Williams, who rented a large house in Short Hills, New Jersey during the conspiracy period, used the earnings from his music career to fuel gun violence in Brooklyn, by offering money and giving expensive jewelry to those who committed acts of violence. Williams’ involvement went beyond merely offering money to commit acts of violence. In one shooting incident, Williams coordinated a group of three shooters, drove those shooters to the crime scene, and then acted as the getaway driver.

The District Attorney thanked Paralegal Tania Lopez of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau for her assistance with the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Sapna Kishnani of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gillian DiPietro, VCE Deputy Bureau Chief, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Cilia, VCE First Deputy Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Alfred DeIngeniis, VCE Bureau Chief.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for

Triple Murder in East New York

Defendant Fatally Shot Victims in Two Separate, Execution-Style Attacks

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Brooklyn man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of three people during two separate East New York shooting incidents in June 2020. The defendant used disguises and high-capacity firearms to ambush and kill his victims in broad daylight.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant’s crimes were ruthless and deliberate, cutting short three lives and leaving their families with grief that will last a lifetime. While gun violence in Brooklyn is at record lows, we cannot lose sight of the devastation caused by horrific acts like these and the lasting impact they have on entire communities. Today’s sentence brings accountability and makes clear that this kind of brutality will never be tolerated in our borough.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Hernandez, 52, of East New York, Brooklyn. He was sentenced today by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was convicted on May 21, 2025, following a jury trial, of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of first-degree reckless endangerment.

Additionally, the District Attorney identified a co-defendant as Liza Jenkins, 52, of East New York. On May 22, 2025, following a bench trial, she was convicted of second-degree hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence for her role in assisting Hernandez after the first homicide. She will be sentenced at a later date.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, on June 20, 2020, at approximately 11 a.m., the defendant approached Kenneth Singleton, 35, from behind as Singleton was washing his car outside of his home in the vicinity of Milford Street and Blake Avenue, in East New York. Wearing a disguise, the defendant shot Singleton multiple times in the head at close range and fled the scene.

Furthermore, according to the evidence, a week later, on June 27, 2020, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the defendant approached Stephanie Perkins, 39, and Chioke Thompson, 23, as they sat on the stoop of Perkins’ home on Van Siclen Street, near Belmont Avenue, in East New York. Disguised in a blonde wig and wearing a long coat, the defendant opened fire with a high-capacity rifle, striking both victims multiple times and killing them instantly. The defendant then stepped over their bodies, entered the house and fired additional shots throughout the first floor before fleeing.

Evidence established that each victim was targeted because of their relationship or proximity to a man with whom the defendant had an ongoing dispute. The attacks endangered other people in the vicinity, including a child and other residents inside Perkins’ home.

The defendant was arrested on July 9, 2020, in West Virginia, by the Regional Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the West Virginia State Police and the Martinsburg Police Department.

The District Attorney thanked Chief Analyst of the Digital Evidence Lab Alexandra Aber, Senior Digital Forensic Analyst Mauricio Suarez-Marquez and Paralegals Jannette Ayala and Amanda Connolly, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, for their assistance on the case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Matthew Perry, of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Leila Rosini, Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

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