Manhattan DA charges 30 in gang operation linked to Washington Heights and Inwood shootings

Thirty people have been charged for their alleged involvement in a violent feud that includes multiple shootings and deaths over the last six years.

Edric Robinson

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Nov 15, 2024, 4:42 PM

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Updated 41 days ago

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced a major crackdown in a gang-related investigation in Washington Heights and Inwood.

Thirty people have been charged for their alleged involvement in a violent feud that includes multiple shootings and deaths over the last six years.

“These groups are allegedly responsible for 50% of the shootings in Inwood and Washington Heights,” Bragg said at a news conference Thursday.

The indictments involve members of three gangs: the 200 gang, 6 Block and Own Every Dollar (OED), all of which, according to Bragg, have contributed to the “scope and impact of the violence” since 2018.

The charges span multiple counts, including conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Here is a breakdown of the charges:

200 Gang: 18 members charged with conspiracy in the second degree for orchestrating violence; 11 of these members also face murder in the second degree.
6 Block: Eight members charged with conspiracy related to firearm possession; one member faces a murder in the second degree charge, and five others are charged with attempted murder in the second degree.
Own Every Dollar (OED): Four members charged with conspiracy related to separate shootings.

According to Bragg, the gangs’ rivalry can be traced back to a 2018 murder that escalated into years of violent retaliation. In total, there were 18 shootings that claimed seven lives, including innocent bystanders.

“The violence didn’t just impact these defendants and their associates, but it impacted the entire neighborhood,” Bragg said.

Among the many incidents, Bragg highlighted one involving a 19-year-old pregnant woman who was shot while sitting in a parked car, as well as the threats and taunts the gang members exchanged online. Texts were documented as part of the investigation, with one text reading, “Please kill him bro. Do him for me.”

In addition to violent feuds, Bragg explained that the gangs also trafficked drugs and firearms. “One of the defendants, Juan Lovelady, sold semi-automatic weapons to 6 Block,” Bragg said. “In addition, he sold 17 weapons to an undercover NYPD officer on several occasions. When he was arrested, he was in possession of several different firearms he was trafficking into our city from Ohio.”

While these arrests are expected to lead to a safer community, Bragg emphasized that there is still more work to be done to combat gang violence. “All Manhattanites deserve to be free from gang violence, no matter what neighborhood they live in,” he said.