16 Charged In Massive Gang Takedown In East Harlem, DA Says

EAST HARLEM, NY — A large group of rival gang members were indicted on Tuesday for committing 21 retributive shootings over the last several months in East Harlem, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

According to Bragg, the 16 gang members — nine from the "LA World" gang and seven from the "Wuski" gang — were charged in two separate indictments, totaling 108 counts, including charges like conspiracy with the intent to commit murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and other charges.

The rivalry between the gangs was sparked by the murder of an LA World gang member and led to 21 shootings in the East Harlem area between March and September of last year.

In other words, this rivalry was responsible for 50 percent of all the shootings in the neighborhood over a six-month period.

“These defendants allegedly committed months of reckless gun violence that terrorized their neighborhoods and communities," Bragg said. "We have absolutely no tolerance for this pervasive, indiscriminate gun violence, which jeopardized the lives of many innocent bystanders."

Fifteen firearms were recovered throughout the investigation, and many of the shootings occurred outside as the defendants indiscriminately fired toward groups of people on the street or in public housing courtyards, Bragg said.

"LA World" operated out of the New York City Housing Authority’s Lehman and AK Houses, while Wuski operated out of New York City Housing Authority’s Johnson Houses, Bragg said.

“These gang members unleashed a months-long cycle of gun violence that left East Harlem residents living in fear,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. “They opened fire near residential buildings, showed a complete disregard for innocent life, and fueled a dangerous pattern of retaliation that devastated this community."

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