‘Babiiez’ street gang members charged in Flatbush shootings

July 2, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Fourteen alleged members of the Babiiez street gang have been charged in an 81-count indictment with conspiracy to commit murder, possess weapons and related charges.

The indictment includes charges related to 11 shootings that resulted in eight victims – six of whom were alleged rival gang members and two men who were not rivals.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said the indictment is the result of a long-term investigation by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division into the violence allegedly committed by members and associates of the Insane Crip Gangsta (ICG) street gang, which is primarily based within the confines of the 70th Precinct (Flatbush).

Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

The investigation specifically focused on a subset of ICG called the Babiiez, named for younger ICG gang members who ranged in age from 15 to 21 years old during the course of the conspiracy.

It is alleged that many of the acts of violence were captured on surveillance videos. Furthermore, it is alleged that the defendants boasted about their criminal actions on social media, directing acts of violence and taking credit for shootings.

Finally, the complaint alleges, the defendants can be heard on recorded Rikers Island jail phone calls discussing violent acts, discussing the possibility of being indicted, discussing how to hold a gun and boasting about their street dominance.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, ICG/Babiiez territory encompasses the Flatbush area, specifically East 21st Street. The buildings located at 131-141 East 21st St., are attached six-story red brick apartment buildings located on the east side of the street between Church and Caton avenues.

The buildings are allegedly referred to as “The Castle” by the defendants and their associates and are believed to be their hub – where they congregated before and after a number of shootings charged in the indictment.

Prosecutors charge that between May 24, 2019 and the date of this indictment, the Babiiez and associates from the Bergen Fam gang, with whom they have an alliance, committed multiple shootings and acts of violence against rival gang members or within rival gang territory to maintain dominance over their geographical territory, maintain supremacy over rivals, and retaliate against taunts and teasing on social media over the death of a former ICG member.

It is alleged that Babiiez members committed 11 shootings during the course of the conspiracy, including the following:

It is alleged that on June 30, 2020, defendants Tristian Williams and Timothy Spence left “The Castle” and walked to 50 East 18th St., which is rival 8 Trey gang territory, at approximately 7:05 p.m. Williams is then allegedly seen on surveillance video firing several shots at a group of men standing in front of the building, striking an alleged 8 Trey gang associate in the leg. Williams and Spence are then captured on surveillance video fleeing the scene.
It is alleged that also on June 30, 2020, shortly after the shooting at 50 East 18th St., a group of approximately 10 men, including Williams and Spence, were hanging out in front of “The Castle” when shots were fired at the group, and they ran into the building to escape. Spence is then allegedly seen on surveillance video giving a firearm to Jahmaree Dublin. Spence, Williams, Dublin and five others then walk to Bedford Avenue and Eastern Parkway, where video surveillance shows a man, exiting a vehicle. Dublin allegedly approaches the man from behind and shoots him, striking him in the leg.
It is alleged that on July 26, 2020, at approximately 8 p.m., in front of 156 Madison St., defendants Amath Kebe, Malik Harry and Kymani Salkey were riding in a vehicle in the territory of the rival Structure Gang when they allegedly spotted a member of that gang. Surveillance video shows a set of arms extended out from the front passenger side window and rear passenger-side window firing shots at the victim, who was struck in the leg. Additional surveillance video tracks the vehicle to Bergen Street and allegedly shows Kebe exiting from the rear passenger side, Salkey exiting from the front passenger side and Harry exiting from the driver’s side.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said, “It is disturbing that young people in our communities are engaged in the type of brazen and senseless gun violence described in this indictment. Taking shooters off the streets has been a focus of my office and the NYPD, and long-term investigations such as this are making a real impact in restoring safety and driving down violence across Brooklyn.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said, “Our investigation zeroed in on the upper echelons of this street organization. Our case focused on the violent street crime that has too often shattered life for those who live and work in our Brooklyn neighborhoods.”

The defendants were arraigned on Thursday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Miriam Cyrulnik on an 81-count indictment in which they are variously charged with first-, second- and fourth-degree conspiracy, second-degree attempted murder; first- and second-degree robbery; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; second-degree assault and other charges.

The investigation was conducted by New York City Police Department Detective John Davis and Detective Steven Souffrin, of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division, under the supervision of Sergeant Andrew Dunton, also of the Gun Violence Suppression Division.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Jhounelle Cunningham and Janesse Dawson and Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Pak, of the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau.