Brooklyn DA announces major gang takedown, over a dozen charged in fatal shootings

Fourteen of the 17 alleged gang members faced a judge in court Tuesday to be indicted on charges related to multiple shootings - including four that were fatal.

News 12 Staff

Jan 4, 2022, 10:23 PM

Updated 1,014 days ago

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Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced a major gang takedown Tuesday, charging over a dozen alleged gang members in connection to several fatal shootings in the borough. 
Authorities tell News 12 the case centers around three gangs that joined forces to create one big alliance. Now, 17 of those alleged members are facing a number of charges, from murder to criminal possession of a weapon. 
"If you fire a gun in this county, you're going to pay a steep price,” said Gonzalez. 
Fourteen of the 17 alleged gang members faced a judge in court Tuesday to be indicted on charges related to multiple shootings - including four that were fatal.
Gonzalez says the street gangs FNO, PPP and YAWAH came together to form the alliance known as YPF. 
He says by doing this, the gangs were able to not only increase their numbers and territory but also maintain dominance in the areas of Brownsville, East New York and Fort Greene. 
Officials say those fatal incidents include the shooting of an 18-year-old college freshman, who was shot in an East New York bodega back in 2020, and another incident from that year in which a 20-year-old woman visiting from Virginia was shot at a Sweet 16 party in Crown Heights. 
Gonzalez, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and Mayor Eric Adams came together to say violence will not be tolerated here in the city and that they’re hoping to combat gun violence by partnering with community-based organizations.
"While we look to our police commissioner, while we look towards our other agencies to stop the feeders of crime, that's prevention, we're going to do an intervention and we're going to take down the crews,” said Adams. 
The alleged gang members range in age from 14 to 20 years old. Five of them are facing life sentences. Others could face up to 25 years behind bars.