MAKESHIFT WEAPONS RECOVERED from an assault carried out between rival gang members in Rikers Islands prison on August 18, 2022. Video courtesy of The Office of the Bronx District Attorney

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Feb. 9 that nine Rikers Island inmates were charged with assault for carrying out what was described as a vicious attack against six other inmates in the jail using makeshift weapons and leaving the victims bloody. According to the prosecution, the attack lasted 15 minutes, and the victims needed hospital treatment for their wounds.

In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “Nine inmates allegedly attacked six others, cornering them and assaulting them with makeshift weapons and objects such as plastic chairs. Even when the victims were on the floor bleeding, the defendants continued to batter them.”

She added, “The motive for the attack is believed to be alleged gang rivalry between Bloods and Mac Balla members. Those awaiting trial should not be subjected to assault. My office will continue to prosecute those who incite violence in the jail, but more must be done to prevent brutality.”

Meanwhile, NYC Department of Correction Commissioner Louis A. Molina said of the incident, “We will never tolerate violence in our jails. We partnered with the Bronx District Attorney to bring indictments against these individuals who are allegedly responsible for this heinous attempted gang assault in August.”

Molina continued, “Sadly, many of the people who come into our custody are already gang affiliated, and these affiliations can be a precursor to violence. The safety and security of all people who work and live in our jails is our top priority. We have seen successes in reducing violence since the start of this administration, and we will build on this and hold those who commit violent acts accountable. We thank the Bronx District Attorney for her leadership in holding these individuals accountable.”

The announcement comes, as reported, a week after a group of eight State lawmakers and advocates for the incarcerated held a press conference at the entrance of Rikers following a visit to the jail on Thursday, April 6, and amid reports of “continued unsafe and inhumane conditions” at the jail. As reported, the jail was due to close in 2026. However, according to reporting by Gothamist, delays suggest it will likely be 2027 before it is finally shuttered and replaced with new city-based jails. The new Bronx borough-based jail is slated to open at the former Lincoln Hospital and NYPD compound at 745 E 141st Street, and not at the Bronx County Courthouse, like in other boroughs.

Clark said the defendants Steven Brown, 27, AKA Shadow, Andrae Robertson, 27, AKA Dre, Arkies Sommerville, 26, AKA Kill Hound, Jacquin Gordon, 26, AKA GT, Spencer Bridge, 30, AKA Tim Bugatti, Lamall Kinsey, 29, AKA B Dotty, Keith McDowell, 27, Equan Harding, 26, AKA Spook, and Orlando Plummer, 47, were charged with six counts of attempted gang assault in the first degree.

They were also charged with 12 counts of second-degree assault, and six counts of third-degree assault. She said six defendants were arraigned on Feb. 8, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Connie Morales and the three other defendants are awaiting arraignment. The defendants are due back in court on May 24. Bail was set at $300,000 cash, $900,000 bond and $900,000 partially secured bond at 10 percent for each defendant.

We questioned with the district attorney’s office why bail was needed if the impacted defendants are already in custody. We will update this story upon receipt of any feedback we receive.

According to the investigation, at around 5:17 a.m. on August 18, 2022, inside the George R. Vierno Center, the nine defendants, who are allegedly Bloods gang members, began fighting with six other inmates, who are alleged to be Mac Balla gang members. According to the prosecution said the Blood gang members allegedly cornered the six Mac Balla gang members next to the housing area’s entrance door.

Prosecution officials said the Bloods gang members allegedly assaulted the Mac Balla gang members with knives fashioned from plexiglass, and hit them with metal pipes, pieces of metal, metal food trays, metal electrical boxes on ropes, a pen with an attached razor and other items. They said the Bloods gang members also allegedly continuously threw a large, hard plastic water container and a plastic chair at the Mac Balla gang members.

They said the attack ended when emergency response officers entered the housing area. The six Mac Balla gang member inmates sustained puncture wounds, swollen jaws and deep lacerations to their heads, faces and bodies, according to officials from the prosecution. All of them required medical treatment at a local area hospital, they said. The beating, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, was captured on surveillance video.

In June 2020, Norwood News reported how 26 alleged Trinitarios gang members were charged for various stabbings on Rikers Island, and in December 2020, we reported that Bloods gang members were charged in connection with a sex trafficking ring operating across multiple Bronx motels.

In April 2022, we reported how 20 alleged G-Side/Drilly gang members were variously charged with murder and/or non-fatal shootings and stabbings in the East Gun Hill Road, Hull Avenue and Decatur Avenue in Norwood and surrounding areas. In May 2022, we reported how 23 alleged River Park Towers gang members were charged with attempted murder, animal cruelty and other charges, and in November 2022, we also reported how Bronx “Mac Ballers” gang members were charged with the 2013 murder of Rasheed Barton.

The latest August 2022 case, referenced above, is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jeffrey Davis and Nadia Alirahi of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, under the supervision of Jonathan Abramovitz, director of the Rikers Island Violence Reduction Initiative, Jose Arocho, deputy chief of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, and Frank Alberts, chief of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, under the overall supervision of Denise Kodjo, deputy chief of the Investigations Division, and Wanda Perez-Maldonado, chief of the Investigations Division.

Clark thanked the trial preparation assistants, Massiel Castillo, of the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau and Tara DiMeglio of the investigations division, as well as Rikers Island community coordinator, Lourdes Galindez.

She also thanked the NYC Department of Correction Intelligence Bureau, specifically the investigators, Walter Holmes, Paul Smith and Cecil Phillips, for their assistance in the investigation.

A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

As reported, on Tuesday, April 11, District 12 City Council Member Kevin Riley, who represents parts of the north Bronx, lead a press conference at City Hall calling for the closure of Rikers.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the charges against the nine defendants were announced on April 12. In fact, they were announced Feb. 9. We apologize for this error.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.