Nine young men tied to a violent East New York street gang known as “Road to Riches,” or R2R, have been indicted on conspiracy charges.
The defendants, ages 15 to 20 at the time of the alleged crimes, face a 68-count indictment that includes charges related to at least 10 shootings since early 2023, including a fatal attack, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Thursday.
Gonzalez described the group as “impulsive” and “obsessed with guns,” saying they often showed little regard for bystanders.
Prosecutors say the suspects also used social media to brag about and escalate violence with rival gangs.
Police recovered at least a dozen firearms allegedly used in the attacks.
Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called for stronger federal gun laws to curb the flow of illegal weapons into New York City and to hold repeat offenders accountable.
Seven of the suspects are in custody, while two remain at large, officials said. The DA’s investigation is expected to continue through the summer.