Officials announce major gang takedown in northern Brooklyn

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison announced the results Wednesday of a major gang takedown in northern Brooklyn.

News 12 Staff

Feb 5, 2020, 10:39 PM

Updated 1,785 days ago

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Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison announced the results Wednesday of a major gang takedown in northern Brooklyn. 
Alleged members of the rival street gangs “WOOO” and “CHOO” have been charged in a 122-count indictment, according to the Brooklyn DA’s Office.

The investigation into the gangs started on Feb. 1, 2018. They're allegedly responsible for 13 shootings over the last two years.
However, Gonzalez says "a continuous state of warfare between the two gangs" has been going on for years.

"These are men who are fighting each other for the sake of fighting each other, not because something has happened between them,” says Gonzales. “We're going to use all of our focused efforts to hold them accountable, to get these guns off the streets to prevent further acts of violence."
While there have been no deaths from the shootings, police say innocent bystanders have been injured in the gang violence.
Police say surveillance video of one incident showed an alleged CHOO member shoot at a rival while going into his car. The gun used in the video is one of the 16 weapons recovered by police.
In another video, prosecutors say a suspected gang member is seen walking by a rival with no visible dispute and then opening fire on a basketball court.
The defendants have various charges including conspiracy, attempted murder, robbery, rape and criminal possession of a weapon.
The DA said he plans to see measurable improvement in gun violence in parts of Brooklyn after the takedown. He also says that additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.