Results tagged “trinitarios”

Just last year around this time word was circulating amongst the rapidly gentrifying streets of Williamsburg that gang warfare and machete attacks were on the rise. While the police presence in the area was heightened, the violence continued throughout the summer—and now that spring is in the air once again, it seems the gangs are done hibernating for the winter. A reader sent us in a tip, saying things are heating up between the Pretty Boy Goonies and the Trinitarios on the Southside. The local reported back saying that the community was on edge after this past Sunday night around 7 p.m. "there was a pipe fight on Bedford around South 4th Street that sent a kid to the hospital." And on Monday night at 6 p.m. "at the pizza place on South Fourth and Bedford, a bunch of guys went into a restaurant and caned a kid while he was on the phone to his mother." Just three hours after that, on South 3rd and Bedford, "a guy was beaten with bottles and a window was broken out of the building behind him." This is what happens when weapons are sold with $1.25 slices!

After yesterday's pre-dawn raids in Washington Heights and the Bronx to arrest 34 Trinitarios gang members (seven are still at large), the federal and local authorities discussed the operation. One fed told CityRoom the gang originated in prison "to protect them from the Latin Kings and the Bloods." NYPD captain Gerry Farrell of the Bronx gang squad said, "What started out as slashings and stabbings with knives and machetes has escalated to shootings and homicides." Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin said, "Thanks to the work of dedicated federal agents and police officers, the residents of Washington Heights have safer places to live today, and those who would endanger their community with drugs and violence are now called to face justice." But one Washington Heights resident was unconvinced and told the Daily News, "It doesn't make me feel safer at all. There's always going to be some left on the outside. They can't arrest everybody."

This morning, federal agents and members of the NYPD busted dozens of members of the Trinitarios gang in Washington Heights and the Bronx early this morning. MyFoxNY reports, "The Trinitarios are accused of being a Dominican gang that operated and controlled drug trafficking on at least four city blocks in the area of West 171st Street through West 174th Streets in the Washington Heights neighborhood." Also: 200 law enforcement officers were involved with the raid. The Trinitarios are believed to be the city's fastest growing gang—and they are not afraid to use violence (their weapon of choice is the machete).

Hey South Williamsburg residents, a heads up courtesy of The NY Post today: the gangs are still around, even if you haven't spotted a machete lately. The paper reports that the neighborhood has got its own "offshoot of the notorious Bloods gang" and they're going up against the machete-wielding Trinitarios. The Pretty Boy Goonies (aka the PBGs) are about a dozen strong, and allegedly have a continuous turf war going on with the Trinitarios in Rodney Park. Councilwoman Diana Reyna says, "This is not fist-fighting we are talking about. They are using machetes to stab and slash, and screwdrivers. There are brawls in the streets, in broad daylight, stopping traffic." Police have upped their presence in the area, on the streets and on rooftops, and have also installed a Sky Watch at Marcy and South 5th Street.