Thirty-two alleged Queens gang members were indicted in what prosecutors called the biggest takedown of a single crew in the borough’s history.
The alleged gangbangers — ranging in age from 15 to 24 — were members of the Bad-Co Ballout gang and lorded over Queens Village with a campaign of terror and brazen violence they sometimes even bragged about on social media, the Queens District Attorney alleged.
“The violence associated with this group is truly staggering,” DA Melinda Katz said at a press conference as the indictments were handed down Thursday, explaining that at least 13 fatal shootings were allegedly linked to the gang in a year-long investigation.
“These defendants have become the most violent gang in the borough of Queens County, creating fear and violence throughout this borough,” she added.
The gang was allegedly led by 21-year-old Jahvon “Shady” Attapoku, who allegedly gave orders about who should kill whom and when, and allegedly armed gangs of local teens.
Attapoku lived in Queens Village, and the neighborhood was known within the gang as “Shadyville,” prosecutors said.
And the crimes he allegedly meted out tended to erupt in broad daylight and leave innocent bystanders of all ages severely wounded and even dead.
Daylight shootings would take place at local fast-food restaurants, busy intersections and near schools, with bullets peppering passing cars and homes.
“Make no mistake. This group didn’t care whether they were shooting at busy intersections, whether they were shooting by schools, playgrounds or very near residential homes or apartment buildings,” Katz said.
One defendant, 20-year-old Sean Chang, even earned the nickname “Broad Day” for his alleged willingness to open fire in broad daylight.
Other alleged gangsters included Mekhi “Scarfaxe” Hooi, 21; Jeff “Havoc” Jospeh, 21; Michael “Smoccey” Raly, 21; Shayne “Gotti Sleeze” Sheppard, 18; Jujharbeer “Juggz” Singh, 18; and Anthony “Ant” Crawford, 19, among others.
One heinous crime allegedly connected with the gang occurred in September 2024, when a then-15-year-old defendant got into a fight with a rival gang member near a busy intersection and started shooting.
Two of the bullets hit 66-year-old grandfather William Alcindor, who was driving by, causing him to wreck and crash into a 23-year-old female who was sitting on the sidewalk.
“Mr. Alcindor died from a gunshot wound to his forehead and to his chest. The 23-year-old woman suffered a head trauma, a collapsed lung, and is still having mobility issues due to the lower body trauma she suffered in the crash,” Katz said.
“This is the very definition of senseless violence that produced innocent victims as well. People have nothing to do with it,” the DA added.
The defendants were charged with 97 counts ranging from murder, attempted murder, gun charges, conspiracy and other charges. Six of the defendants face life in prison.
“For years, the members of these rival gangs terrorized communities in Queens, turning neighborhoods into their own deadly playgrounds and then bragging about it on social media,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
“They wanted credit for the shootings they carried out, and today, we’re happy to give it to them. Using targeted enforcement and precision policing, the NYPD investigators did the dangerous work needed to stop this violence.
“Thanks to them, Queens is significantly safer today.”
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