BROOKLYN, NY – Thirty-two members of New York City’s Woo and Choo gangs have been arrested and are facing 106 charges related to 19 shootings that left two dead and fourteen wounded, including a three-year-old girl.
The Woo and Choo street gangs are rivals that have been at war with each other, leaving death and despair in their wake. One of those victims was a 3-year-old girl who was shot in the crossfire while leaving daycare.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “With this successful takedown, we aim to incapacitate two violent gangs that have terrorized parts of Brownsville for too long. Their senseless and indiscriminate gun violence upended the sense of safety for many residents and wounded a number of innocent bystanders, including a 3-year-old-girl who was leaving her daycare center. We will never allow this type of criminal activity to go unimpeded and will work closely with the NYPD to build strong cases that will ensure that these alleged offenders are held accountable, and our communities are kept safe – like we’ve done in this case.”
Charges range from assault to weapons charges to murder.
NYPD Commissioner Sewell said, “Among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners is focusing our resources on the relatively few people responsible for the majority of the crime and violence in New York City. Today’s charges highlight our commitment to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting anyone who takes part in illegal gang activities. I thank and commend the members of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and the entire Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their dedicated efforts on this important case.”
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has been investigating this case since the spring of 2020.
“The long-running rivalry between these criminal organizations, predicated on maintaining their territory and gaining supremacy over their rivals, coupled with close geographic proximity, has led to consistent and frequent violence. Much of the violence charged in the indictments was specifically fueled by the murder of WOOO member Shamel Boomer on July 10, 2020,” the D.A.’s office said. “Although not directly responsible for Boomer’s death (a member of the Bergen Fam gang was later charged for allegedly committing that homicide), the murder of Boomer was celebrated by both Bergen Fam and CHOO alike and has become a common way to disrespect WOOO by both gangs. WOOO vowed retaliation against their rivals, including CHOO, in a violent movement referred to as “Boomin’ for Boomer” on social media. CHOO, in turn, retaliated against WOOO members or individuals perceived to be associated with WOOO.”
Making things easier for investigators in this case was that man of the violent acts were captured on surveillance video and gang members often bragged about their criminals acts on social media and in music videos.