The trial of Joel Herrera for the tragic mistaken-identity murder of Glenn Wright, 20, is now in the hands of a jury. On Friday, both the defense and the prosecution presented their closing arguments, after which the judge charged the jury with their duties and sequestered them in the jury room, where they had the opportunity to examine witness testimony and other evidence presented over the past week. more ›

Since 2008 as many as 1.4 million blank prescription forms may have been stolen from New York City hospitals and resold to criminal gangs (possibly the Latin Kings) but the New York State Department of Health hasn't bothered to warn pharmacists about the problem, Newsday reports [paywall]. Which makes total sense considering the fact that last year more people died on Long Island from overdoses related to Oxycodone than heroin. more ›

The NJ State Police conducted its fourth survey (PDF) on gangs in the Garden State and found 45% of towns reported some gang presence. The Star-Ledger reports, "Authorities surveyed nearly all 566 municipalities, with only Elizabeth declining to participate... State Police identified 244 distinct gangs and 1,575 gangs." Here are the gangs with the widest reach: Latin Kings (106 towns); Sex Money Murder Bloods (95 towns); Nine Trey Bloods (86 towns); Pagans Motorcycle Club (79 towns); G-Shine/G.K.B Bloods (73 towns); MS-13 (67 towns); Grape St. Crips (51 towns). more ›

The NYPD announced that seven members of the Latin Kings were arrested for attacking three gay men. Two other suspects are still at large and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly called the incidents "cowardly and despicable.. This was not part of an initiation. This was a reaction to the fact that they had engaged in homosexual activity." more ›

The Brooklyn DA's office announced the 18 indictments of members of the Latin Kings, who were trying to kill a former member by way of throwing Molotov cocktails at buildings where they thought he was residing. He wasn't there—but guess who was? An elderly woman and children; luckily, no one was injured. However, the former member Juan Kuang was also charged with attempted murder because he sort of started the whole thing by stabbing the brother of the gang's leader, "First Crown" Roger Vado. (Vado and the gang's "Borough Park Homicide Squad" were charged with arson.) DA Charles Hynes said, “These so-called ‘Latin Kings’ do not rule the streets of Brooklyn, but they may each find themselves reigning over a small prison cell for the rest of their lives.” more ›

Hundreds of officers and agents from local, state, and federal agencies, led by the FBI, conducted early morning raids in Newburgh, NY today, in an attempt to address the outsized violence in the small city. The Times Herald-Record reports there were two operations: "Blood Drive" which "targeted 60 suspected members of the Bloods, including the reputed leader Anthony 'Double O' Boykins and his 18-year-old replacement, Joseph McLean" and "Black Crown," which "targeted 18 members of the Latin Kings." Federal indictments are expected later this afternoon. WABC 7 reports, "The Bloods will be brought to Lower Manhattan, and the Latin Kings will be brought to White Plains." more ›

Police arrested seven members of the Latin Kings gang accused of stashing heroin and cocaine in the airbag compartments of their cars while they smuggled the drugs into Brooklyn. Before driving across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the suspects purportedly hid the narcotics in "hydraulic trapdoors that were rigged to open when the driver pushed a series of buttons on the dashboard panel in a set order," the Staten Island Advance reports. After an 18-month investigation — which involved undercover drug drug purchases and electronic and visual surveillance — prosecutors alleged that 27-year-old ringleader Jose Arroyave repeatedly sold glassine bags of heroin and $4,000 of cocaine to an informant. An additional suspect has reportedly fled to Puerto Rico. more ›

A is for Apple..B is for Blood and C is for Crip? The Daily News has a disturbing story about gang-member parents indoctrinating their children from birth in gang life. Before they can even speak, some of these tots can flash their signs and are adorned with gang colors and accouterments. Are gang-themed line of onesies far behind? more ›

After a protest in East Harlem, baseball cap manufacturer New Era has agreed to pull Yankees caps from store shelves. A number of caps seem to refer to the Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings and became a controversy during a back-to-school shopping trip. more ›

To anyone attending next year's Puerto Rican Day Parade, we have this suggestion: Don't wear black-and-gold. At a press conference, parade organizers decried arrests of people who were not engaged in any illegal activity during Sunday's event. National Puerto Rican Day Parade president Madelyn Lugo said, "We are very disappointed and alarmed that these violations of civil rights should occur." more ›

There are new details surrounding Sunday's 208 arrests at the Puerto Rican Day Parade: According to the NY Times, the police still claim that people were arrested for "specific illegal behavior," like blocking traffic, and not because they were wearing colors of the Latin Kings gang. However:

Criminal complaints filed against 10 defendants show that the police were concerned about the risk that those arrested would engage in violent or threatening behavior or cause some public inconvenience. more ›

Yesterday's reports about the number of people arrested during the 50th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade were incorrect: While numbers like 80 and 173 were offered, today the NY Times reveals 208 people were arrested, due to police concerns about the Latin Kings. However, there's some question as to whether more people without gang connections were arrested during the sweep. more ›

Fifth Avenue was packed with revelers and performers during the 50th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. Celebrities, like "King" Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, were out in force, as were the politicians, including Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Eliot Spitzer, Senator Charles Schumer, Representative Jose Serrano, and Puerto Rico governor Anibal Acevedo-Villa. more ›

Police officer Jacqueline Melendez-Rivera offered her apology to Officer Andrew Suarez, who was shot by Melendez-Rivera's ex-con husband in a strange incident early Saturday morning. Rivera yelled, "You got a beef?" and allegedly shot at Suarez and other plainclothes police officers, even after Suarez flashed a badge. Melendez-Rivera, a 13 veteran of the NYPD, told reporters, "I'm very sorry for the injuries to Officer [Andrew] Suarez, and I hope he recovers as he was before... I feel horrible. A fellow officer - he's a father, a brother. I feel devastated. I'm very, very sorry. I pray constantly that he recovers." more ›

A truly strange story unfolded yesterday after initial reports that a police officer had been shot at Sixth Avenue and Prospect Place in Brooklyn. It turns out that the husband of an NYPD officer shot at an unmarked police SUV carrying four cops. And the wife, police officer Jacqueline Melendez-Rivera, tried to cover up her husband's actions. more ›

A 17 year old was stabbed on the Norwood Avenue elevated subway platform yesterday afternoon. Police believe the teen, a student at Franklin K. Lane High School, was fighting with another student. The incident caused area subway service to be suspended as the police investigated. more ›

Hundreds of thousands of revelers enjoyed the beautiful weather and celebrated during yesterday's Puerto Rican Day Parade. And this year's theme was, "Boricuas...We count, We Vote!" Though Marc Anthony was the Grand Marshal, the real attraction was his wife, Jennifer Lopez. Mayor Bloomberg, who marched with the couple, said, "In the pictures tomorrow, I will be lucky if I am noticed at all." Anthony and Lopez ultimately needed the help of Guardian Angels to keep the paparazzi off them and keep moving along the parade route. And the couple was also there to promote their upcoming film, El Cantante, but the El Cantante float broke down towards the end of the route. more ›

Not a great way to start a school day off. Not at all. more ›

Yesterday's Puerto Rican Day Parade shimmered along Fifth Avenue, although there were some problems. In a nutshell, a police officer was slashed, gang members tried to crash the parade, three people were stabbed - 175 arrests all told. Oh, and two on-duty police officers were accused of groping women! The Daily News says that many men "wearing black-and-gold Latin Kings shirts" wanted to march, but the police claimed they found a gun and knives on them; a "self-proclaimed gang member" told the Daily News, "We just come over here to enjoy our day." And the police are investigating the groping incidents. While some people worry about Puerto Ricans being more "destructive" than other paraders the city sees over the year, Gothamist just thinks there's something about a parade with a lot of people in the sultry, steamy heat that must make people crazy - imagine if the St. Patrick's Day Parade were during the summer. Still, there's something pretty cool about seeing a flatbed truck, decorated with Puerto Rican flags and people, zooming down West End Avenue at 6PM. more ›

Gothamist on plans to make Coney Island a year-around destination. Tien on a trip to Coney Island, Slice's Coney Island pizza picks, and Satan Laundromat's pictures of Coney Island. more ›