32 alleged members of rival Brooklyn gangs facing more than 100 charges
BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced the results of 'Operation Close Quarters' Tuesday, a takedown of more than 30 gang members linked to a string of shootings that have terrorized Brownsville, some of them high profile.
These shootings are believed to be linked to the continuing tensions between the Woo and Choo street gangs.
The Brooklyn DA says the investigation revealed 19 shootings, which injured 14 people, killing two of them, and involved victims as young as 3 years old.
At the heart of the case was a stunning series of surveillance videos. Prosecutors say the gang members targeted one another on crowded streets, blasting them with bullets, often in the middle of the afternoon.
Investigators say some of the men charged boasted about and took credit for shootings on social media and in music videos.
"In a word, reckless, reckless as we've ever seen," NYPD Deputy Chief Jason Savino said. "No regard for anybody in the area. These are subjects that wake up every single day just to 'live the life' exclusively to benefit their gang."
In the past, Gonzalez has alleged "these gang members' primary activity is to track rivals and to shoot at each other on sight on the streets of Brooklyn."
One crime solved in this takedown was the shooting of a three-year-old girl outside a day care in Brownsville in March.
Shell casings littered the sidewalk where the 3-year-old girl was wounded and nearly killed. Her little hoodie was covered in blood.
Daleek Habersham aka "Daleek EBK" and Princess Chambers aka "Princess Quinn" were arrested in that case. They are reputed members of the Choo street gang.
Investigators say the gunman, Habersham, was aiming at the child's father in a case of mistaken identity.
"Some of those people injured were not intended targets, but were innocent bystanders, including a very young child and two senior citizens," Gonzalez said.
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