Politics
30 People Charged in Manhattan Gang War That Killed 7
Washington Heights and Inwood were the scene of deadly feuds that began six years ago after a killing. Thursday’s charges were just the latest in a series of gang takedowns.
Manhattan prosecutors indicted 30 people on Thursday in a takedown of gang members from three groups that it said were responsible for half of the shootings in Washington Heights and Inwood this year.
Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, said the gangs were responsible for seven deaths and 18 shootings starting in late 2018, after one man murdered a rival.
The war that followed plagued the Upper Manhattan neighborhoods with trauma, violence and fear. The indictment came as the city was struggling with a rise in youth crime over the last seven years and authorities were continuing to dismantle gangs with sweeping indictments.
“I want to be very clear: If you traffic illegal firearms into Manhattan, or use guns to commit violence against fellow Manhattanites, you will be held accountable,” Mr. Bragg said.
Those indicted included 18 members of the 200 gang, eight members from the 6 Block crew and four others from the Own Every Dollar organization.
Charges included various conspiracy counts, gun possession and at least 11 counts of second-degree murder.