Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., has announced the indictment of 13 individuals associated with the "OY" gang, facing a slew of charges including a homicide, multiple shootings, and a courthouse slashing. The litany of violence attributed to the group spanned much of 2024 and has left the Manhattan communities of Harlem and Upper Manhattan grappling with the repercussions, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The incidents include the tragic case of 16-year-old Tresaun Clements, who was mistakenly identified as a rival gang member and later died as a result of an assault. "This violence was needless and resulted in the death of a young man who should be alive today," D.A. Bragg said, in a statement obtained by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, emphasizing his commitment to addressing gun violence through a holistic approach.
Among the accused, 12 face charges of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, collectively facing a total of 66 counts that include Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Shootings at local delis, and in the middle of streets, where innocent bystanders were often at risk, were among the actions detailed in the indictment. The gang, based in Central Harlem, engaged in recurring conflicts with rival groups over matters such as drug sales. Their rivals were typically located in four nearby NYCHA developments, Drew Hamilton Houses, Harlem River Houses, Douglass Houses, and Polo Grounds Towers, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
One especially brazen act involved the smuggling of weapons into the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, resulting in an assault, "These alleged gang members turned areas in Harlem into their own deadly playground — senselessly claiming the life of a New Yorker, placing many more at risk with reckless gunfire, and even brazenly smuggling weapons into a courthouse to carry out a violent assault on rival gang members," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, highlighting the disregard for life demonstrated by the gang members. The case has led to a collaborative effort between the NYPD and the Manhattan DA's Office to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for these heinous acts.
The comprehensive investigation that led to the indictments was supported by a team of assistant district attorneys and analysts. The prosecution thanks members of the NYPD, including Police Officer Gerard Garced, Detective Daniel Madden, and Detective Keith Figueroa, for their dedicated investigative work.
