NEW HAVEN, CT – Nyzaire Barnes, known as “Melo,” a 19-year-old resident of New Haven, has entered a guilty plea to a racketeering charge for his involvement with the Exit 8 street gang, a group implicated in a series of violent acts across the city. The announcement comes from a collaboration of federal and local law enforcement agencies, highlighting ongoing efforts to address gang-related violence in New Haven.
In court proceedings before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden, Barnes admitted to his role in the gang’s activities, which include drug trafficking, use and sharing of firearms, and involvement in at least three murders and 16 attempted murders since June 2018. The gang, named after the Interstate 91 exit leading to its area of operation, has seen its younger members adopt the moniker “Honcho” in honor of a slain gang member.
The comprehensive investigation into the gang war, led by the ATF, FBI, DEA, and New Haven Police Department in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, unveiled the gang’s engagement in violent acts and drug trafficking. Members have also been found using stolen vehicles for their crimes, which were at times acquired from outside the state.
Barnes specifically acknowledged participating in two gang-related shootings in 2022 and 2023, one of which involved a drive-by shooting that resulted in a rival gang member being shot in the head, though the victim survived.
Barnes has been in custody since August 3, 2023, and faces up to 20 years in prison at his upcoming sentencing. Devin Suggs, another gang member involved in the drive-by shooting, also pleaded guilty to the same charge and is awaiting sentencing.