Defendants--Alleged Gang Members--Cornered Rival Gang Members and Beat Them for 15 Minutes; Victims Needed Hospital Treatment for Wounds
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that nine Rikers Island inmates have been indicted on assault charges for carrying out a vicious attack against six other inmates in the jail using makeshift weapons, leaving them bloody.
District Attorney Clark said, “Nine inmates allegedly attacked six others, cornering them and assaulting them with makeshift weapons and objects such as plastic chairs. Even when the victims were on the floor bleeding, the defendants continued to batter them. The motive for the attack is believed to be alleged gang rivalry between Bloods and Mac Balla members. Those awaiting trial should not be subjected to assault. My Office will continue to prosecute those who incite violence in the jail, but more must be done to prevent brutality.”
Department of Correction Commissioner Louis A. Molina said, “We will never tolerate violence in our jails. We partnered with the Bronx District Attorney to bring indictments against these individuals who are allegedly responsible for this heinous attempted gang assault in August. Sadly, many of the people who come into our custody are already gang affiliated, and these affiliations can be a precursor to violence. The safety and security of all people who work and live in our jails is our top priority. We have seen successes in reducing violence since the start of this administration, and we will build on this and hold those who commit violent acts accountable. We thank the Bronx District Attorney for her leadership in holding these individuals accountable.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendants Steven Brown, 27, AKA Shadow, Andrae Robertson, 27, AKA Dre, Arkies Sommerville, 26, AKA Kill Hound, Jacquin Gordon, 26, AKA GT, Spencer Bridge, 30, AKA Tim Bugatti, Lamall Kinsey, 29, AKA B Dotty, Keith McDowell, 27, Equan Harding, 26, AKA Spook, and Orlando Plummer, 47, have been indicted on six counts of Attempted Gang Assault in the first degree, 12 counts of second-degree Assault, and six counts of third-degree Assault. Six defendants were arraigned on February 8, 2023, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Connie Morales and the three other defendants are awaiting arraignment. The defendants are due back in court on May 24, 2023. Bail was set at $300,000 cash, $900,000 bond and $900,000 partially secured bond at 10% for each defendant.
According to the investigation, at approximately 5:17 a.m. on August 18, 2022, inside the George R. Vierno Center, the nine defendants, who are allegedly Bloods gang members, began fighting with six other inmates, who are alleged to be Mac Balla gang members. The defendants then cornered the six inmates next to the housing area’s entrance door. The defendants assaulted them with knives fashioned from plexiglass, and hit them metal pipes, pieces of metal, metal food trays, metal electrical boxes on ropes, a pen with an attached razor and other items. The defendants also continuously threw a large, hard plastic water container and a plastic chair at them.
The attack ended when emergency response officers entered the housing area. The six inmates sustained puncture wounds, swollen jaws and deep lacerations to their heads, faces and bodies. All of them required medical treatment at a local area hospital. The beating, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, was captured on surveillance video.
District Attorney Clark thanked the New York City Department of Correction Intelligence Bureau, specifically Investigators Walter Holmes, Paul Smith and Cecil Phillips for their assistance in the investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
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