Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced on Thursday, Sept. 21, that 12 alleged “5zzly” crew members were charged with with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy, and additional charges for multiple shootings across The Bronx, many in broad daylight, the killing of an innocent bystander, and robberies carried out in The Bronx, Queens and Manhattan in which cab drivers, elderly people, and a parole officer were targeted.

 

In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendants, who are between the ages of 16 and 22, allegedly carried out 23 violent crimes, including the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander, attempted murders against rival gang members, and robberies of elderly victims. These defendants terrorized the people of The Bronx, carrying out these shootings and robberies in broad daylight, sending Bronxites, including mothers with children, running for cover.”

 

She added, “We will not tolerate this violence that plagues our communities and threatens the everyday lives of residents. The people of the Bronx have the right to live peacefully, without the fear of getting caught in the crossfire of gang disputes or becoming a victim of a gunpoint robbery. I thank the NYPD gun violence suppression division for working with our office in this major investigation. We must all work together to keep the Bronx safe.”

 

The defendants are Abdoul Azika, AKA AB, 19, Michael Outler, AKA Mike, AKA Spazz, 18, Devante Russell, AKA Dev, 20, Justin Polanco, AKA Jay, 21, Matthius Andrades, AKA Sammy, 18, Jaquell Blackwell, AKA JQ, 18, Daniel Chambers, AKA Briscoe, 18, Antione Scriber, AKA Ant, 20, Nathaniel Jenkins, AKA NDot, AKA Fiveshots, 16, Davion Collen, AKA Davi, 20, Thomas Plegnon, AKA T5, 16 and Jassan Abrams, AKA Bando, 18.

 

For his part, Caban said, “The work of the gun violence suppression division along with its many partners, both in the NYPD and at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, is saving lives. New York City will never be a place where ongoing gang feuds can proceed unchecked. If you are willing to pick-up an illegal firearm and pull the trigger, you can expect the full weight of this department and its partners to hold you accountable.”

 

He added, “I want to thank the many talented investigators who built a strong case and allowed justice to be delivered on behalf of the Bronx residents who were forced to endure this dangerous, criminal behavior.”

Prosecutors said the 110-count indictment include second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, 24 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, nine counts of attempted murder in the second degree, three counts of attempted assault in the first degree, seven counts of second-degree assault, 11 counts of criminal possession of a firearm, and six counts of first-degree reckless endangerment.

 

It also included nine counts of first-degree robbery, 15 counts of second-degree robbery, five counts of third-degree robbery, first-degree gang assault, three counts of attempted robbery in the second degree, six counts of third-degree robbery, attempted robbery in the third degree, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree conspiracy, and three counts of fourth-degree conspiracy.

 

Prosecutors said defendants, Blackwell, Azika and Collen, were arraigned and remanded in custody, and Chambers, was released under supervision and curfew on Sept. 20, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Joseph McCormack. They said six other defendants are in custody for other cases and are awaiting arraignment, and two other defendants are apprehended and are awaiting arraignment.

 

According to the investigation, between February 2021 and June 2023, the defendants, who are alleged members of the “5zzly” crew of the Blood Hound Brims gang, allegedly carried out multiple shootings against rival gang members. The charges include the murder of Ariel Santos, an innocent bystander, ten non-fatal shootings, 11 robberies, and one gun charge of gun possession.

 

According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly robbed people at gunpoint or knifepoint, targeting victims that were 69-72 years of age, as well as an on-duty NYS parole officer and cab drivers. They said the defendants allegedly took the victims’ cellphones and other items. They said they also allegedly carjacked four vehicles: two cabs, a Chevrolet Suburban, and a Lexus. They said two of the vehicles were used in shootings.

 

Some of the crimes alleged in the indictment included the following:

 

On April 5, 2021, Azika, Russell, Andrades and Polanco allegedly fired multiple shots at rival gang members of the Doe Ave crew. The incident took place on the corner of Hoe Avenue and East 174th Street in the vicinity of Crotona. Acting in concert with each other, they allegedly fired at least three shots as a mother and two children walked nearby, in range of their weapons.

 

On April 19, 2021, at about 6:00 p.m., [unspecified] defendants allegedly engaged in a shootout at 1825 Prospect Avenue in the vicinity of Crotona, firing 18 shots.

 

On April 26, 2021, defendants, Jenkins and Andrades, allegedly fired shots in the vicinity of 764 East 178th Street in Crotona, striking Justin Baez, an alleged “800YGZ” rival gang member, in the arm. Baez survived.

 

On May 25, 2021, at around 6 p.m., in the vicinity of 178th Street and Arthur Avenue in the vicinity of Crotona, Polanco, Russell, Andrades, and Scriber, acting in concert with each other, allegedly fired multiple shots from a car at a “800YGZ” gang member. They struck Ariel Santos, 32, in the chest. The victim was an innocent bystander who was near his home standing on the corner when the shooting happened. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

 

On October 18, 2021, at approximately 5:45 a.m., in the vicinity of 1449 Leland Avenue in Parkchester, defendants, Azika, Blackwell, and Outler, allegedly robbed an on-duty parole officer at gunpoint and took the victim’s firearm and cellphone. On that afternoon, Azika and Outler used the officer’s gun during a shooting on 919 East 174th Street in the vicinity of Crotona, endangering the lives of innocent bystanders.

 

In separate incidents in May 2023, defendants, Azika, Outler, Blackwell, and Abrams, allegedly conducted three gunpoint robberies. The victims were two 69-year-old men and a 73-year-old man. One of the victims was pistol-whipped and his head was cracked open.

 

On June 19, 2023, Azika, Blackwell, and Abrams allegedly stole a wallet and cellphone from a man in Queens, N.Y., at gunpoint. The victim was severely beaten, and doctors had to perform a tracheotomy. The victim was in a coma for three days.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jillian Castrellon, supervisor in Trial Bureau 60, and Christine Scaccia, chief of the Homicide Bureau, under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the Trial Division.

 

Clark thanked Bryan McRinna, team leader/supervisor in Trial Bureau 60, Kimberly Cameron, team leader/supervisor in the Homicide Bureau, Susanna Imbo, chief of Trial Bureau 60, Diane Gatto, chief of the Grand Jury Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Tammy Vadasz, supervisor in the Grand Jury Unit.

 

She also thanked the NYPD gun violence suppression division, specifically NYPD Det. Patrick Nichols, Sgt. Christopher Neil, Sgt. Sandy Rodriguez, Lt. Rafael Tosado, Inspector Craig Edelman, Chief Jason Savino, Police Officer Alexis Melo, and the Bronx Robbery Squad, the 42nd Precinct detective squad, the 43rd Precinct detective squad, the 47th Precinct detective squad, the 48th Precinct detective squad, the 115th Precinct, and the Queens robbery squad.

 

Norwood News had previously reported on a series of unrelated violent carjackings in the borough in August 2022 by other gang members. In September 2022, we also reported on the arrest of two Bronx men for some unrelated multiple kidnappings, carjackings and robberies.

 

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