Brooklyn Gang Indicted for Violence and Murder

A violent street gang known as “Road 2 Riches,” comprised mostly of teenagers, is accused of terrorizing parts of Brooklyn with multiple shootings, including the fatal shooting of an innocent woman and an attempted murder inside a local store.

Law enforcement charged nine members, all under 21, with a range of crimes including conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and weapon possession, stemming from ten shootings over the past two years. Prosecutors say the gang targeted rival groups but also indiscriminately shot into crowds, endangering civilians.

In one incident in August 2023, 18-year-old King Downing allegedly opened fire inside a bodega after mistaking two unarmed men for rivals, killing 24-year-old Abdoulaye Ba. The gang openly bragged about the homicide on social media, celebrating the killing and sharing posts that claimed responsibility.

Another shooting in Brownsville involved 18-year-old DeAnthony Ortiz firing at two men in broad daylight, hitting a 68-year-old woman who was just trying to get home from shopping. Fortunately, she survived and received hospital treatment.

The gang has also been linked to multiple other shootings, including wounding a teenage boy and firing on a vehicle carrying a family and bystanders, one of whom was inside an Uber. They are known to be in conflict with rival gangs such as “Pistol Packin Pitkin” (PPP) and others affiliated with Folk Nation.

Brooklyn’s District Attorney emphasized that such reckless violence fosters fear across neighborhoods and that the indictment aims to curb these dangerous trends. Local officials have called for stricter laws to hold offenders accountable and restore safety.

City officials and prosecutors remain committed to cracking down on youth-led gangs responsible for such violence, urging community support for further legal reforms.