Editor’s Note: The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.

A beloved, colorful mural comprising the words, “Norwood” and “The Bronx” in large lettering, located on East 207^th Street and Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood, has been defaced seemingly with the more sinister word, “Ammo,” sometimes used as an abbreviation for ammunition.

It is unknown if the latest defacing of the mural with the word “ammo” is an attempt to mark gangland turf in the neighborhood or if it has a different meaning, but one resident told Norwood News last year when the mural was first defaced with a simple, thick white line painted across the center of it, that this had been done to agitate local kids who reportedly liked the mural.

 

The artwork was painted by the artist, Laura Alvaro, with funding from former District 11 City Councilman Andrew Cohen.

In smaller lettering, accompanying the word “Ammo” is “TGK.” TGK has a number of possible meanings. According to bullet manufacturer, Sierra, hunting bullets measured by diameter and weight are known as “TGK,” an acronym for Tipped GameKing.

 

Sierra manufactures a wide range of bullets for both rifles and pistols, and such bullets “are used for precision target shooting, hunting and defense purposes.”

According to definitions.net, Trethewey Gangsta Killaz (aka “TGK” or the Trethewey Gangster Crips) originated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and are a heavily armed and extremely violent group.

 

“It is alleged by Authorities that the Trethewey Gangsta Killaz were known to supply other criminal organizations with firearms around a time when police first discovered the trend of gangs lending guns to individual dealers or lesser established sets for a fee,” an extract from the website reads.

It continues, “The Trethewey Gangster Crips are the latest incarnation of the TGK gang.” According to mymixtapez.com, TGK Gang appear to be rap artists, based in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

When we asked local store owners on the block where the mural is located when it was originally defaced with the thick white line last year, they were unsure, but it appears to have been some time in 2023.

Norwood News recently reported that federal prosecutors announced on March 6 the arrests of 16 members of an “armed and violent” drug trafficking crew who had been terrorizing a section of Fordham Manor located between East 194th and East 196th Street by Valentine Avenue for several years. Symbols possibly indicative of gang affiliation were seen on a section of Valentine Avenue on March 6.

 

Federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York, the FBI, and NYPD announced on Wednesday, March 6, that charges were filed against 16 members and leaders of “an armed and violent drug trafficking crew” who operated with deadly consequences for their victims on Valentine Avenue in Fordham Manor for over 10 years.

Speaking in Spanish, one nearby store owner, who declined to be identified, said the latest defacing of the mural with the “Ammo” wording appeared towards the end of February 2024. The store owner said his van was also defaced with similar symbols and that he had to repaint it. He said he didn’t see who was responsible in either case.

 

Meanwhile, Stephen Pierson, executive director of the group, ArtBridge, told Norwood News in December 2023, “We are currently trying to raise funds to fix the mural in the early spring, when painting again becomes temperature-viable. We’re thrilled that it [the mural] went so many years without defacement – which speaks strongly to the community-engaged way in which Laura [Alvarez] produced this.”

For her part, Alvarez said, “I saw the mural was tagged back in October 2022 when I was walking by after teaching an art class at Montefiore. After that, I had several neighbors reaching out because they saw the mural was getting worse. Also, the landlord contacted me about repainting it.”

 

Alvarez said she contacted Artbridge to see if there was something that could be done. “Right now, we are trying to find funding so we can paint it by spring. The idea is to hold some community engagement events to create a new design and paint the mural after.”

Should anyone wish to contact Pierson or Alvarez about funding, Norwood News has their contact information. You can email us at smoloney@norwoodnews.org.