More than 100 members in Harlem have been arrested over their alleged connection to three rival gangs on Wednesday, in what was described as the largest indictment of gang members in New York City's history, authorities said.
The members have been accused of killings and gun violence, Reuters reported. An early morning police raid on two housing projects in Harlem resulted in the suspects' arrest.
The arrests and indictments were part of a conspiracy investigation that stemmed from the 2011 murder of Tayshana Murphy, an 18-year-old high-school basketball star, a person familiar with the investigation said. Murphy was shot three times, in her wrist, hip and chest, at about 4 a.m. in a hallway of her Grant Houses apartment building.
"Although two young men have already been convicted for Murphy's murder, investigators broadened their inquiry into a pattern of violence they said were plaguing the neighborhood in upper Manhattan," according to Reuters. "The gangs are accused of two homicides, 19 non-fatal shootings and about 50 other shooting incidents, according to a brief announcement from the Manhattan district attorney."
A news conference on Wednesday afternoon will announce further details on the incident.
It was comforting to see police cracking down on the neighborhood, local residents told NY1.
"It's good, because my kids play around here, and I don't want anything to happen to anybody's kids over here, so that's a good thing," said one resident.
"It's really sad, it really is. You know like, we're supposed to live here in peace, especially the young people. They should be able to get along," said another resident.
Murphy's death came after a long evening of fighting between the gangs on Sept. 11, 2011, prosecutors said at the time.
Tyshawn Brockington, 24, and Robert Cartagena, 23, who were associated with a gang in the Manhattanville Houses project, were convicted for Murphy's murder and sentenced to between 25 years and life in prison, Reuters reported.
