NEW YORK—Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, and New York City Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano announced the indictment of 18 gang members of the Latin Kings on arson charges at a press conference held on Wednesday, July 21.
Target of the crime, former gang member Juan Kuang, also known as the 19, stabbed Norman Vado, brother of Roger Vado, the leader of Latin King´s subdivision called the Borough Park Homicide Squad after Kuang lost his membership as a “king” due to a disagreement.
In retaliation, Roger Vado and members of the Borough Park Homicide Squad set fire at two separate residences, where they believed Kuang was living, by throwing Molotov cocktails at the buildings. One of the homes belonged to family members of Kuang´s girlfriend, said the district attorney.
While the first target, a building that housed children and an elderly woman, was completely destroyed, the other one ended up with a damaged exterior and rear wall. No one was injured in either building.
The district attorney is determined to bring the gang members to justice. “I will not tolerate violent street gangs like this bunch trying to overrun our neighborhoods,” said Mr. Hynes according to an official press release. While 18 members of the Latin Kings were arrested in relation to the fires, 10 were charged with Arson in the First Degree, which can eventually lead to a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Raymond W. Kelly, commissioner of the New York City Police, revealed that many of the gang members involved have long records of violent crimes before the internal conflict emerged inside the gang.
“This is not the actions of kings. This is the action of cowards, to put innocent people at risk and then run from the scene,” commented Mr. Kelly.
The commissioner further said that crime has been reduced by 30 percent in Brooklyn since 2002. “Our police officers put their own lives at risk at some of the most dangerous places in the city,” said Kelly.
The Latin Kings are described as “one of the most violent gangs in the United States today” by the National Gang Crime Research Center. While there are 3,000 members of Latin Kings in New York City, one-sixth of them live in Brooklyn.
Target of the crime, former gang member Juan Kuang, also known as the 19, stabbed Norman Vado, brother of Roger Vado, the leader of Latin King´s subdivision called the Borough Park Homicide Squad after Kuang lost his membership as a “king” due to a disagreement.
In retaliation, Roger Vado and members of the Borough Park Homicide Squad set fire at two separate residences, where they believed Kuang was living, by throwing Molotov cocktails at the buildings. One of the homes belonged to family members of Kuang´s girlfriend, said the district attorney.
While the first target, a building that housed children and an elderly woman, was completely destroyed, the other one ended up with a damaged exterior and rear wall. No one was injured in either building.
The district attorney is determined to bring the gang members to justice. “I will not tolerate violent street gangs like this bunch trying to overrun our neighborhoods,” said Mr. Hynes according to an official press release. While 18 members of the Latin Kings were arrested in relation to the fires, 10 were charged with Arson in the First Degree, which can eventually lead to a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Raymond W. Kelly, commissioner of the New York City Police, revealed that many of the gang members involved have long records of violent crimes before the internal conflict emerged inside the gang.
“This is not the actions of kings. This is the action of cowards, to put innocent people at risk and then run from the scene,” commented Mr. Kelly.
The commissioner further said that crime has been reduced by 30 percent in Brooklyn since 2002. “Our police officers put their own lives at risk at some of the most dangerous places in the city,” said Kelly.
The Latin Kings are described as “one of the most violent gangs in the United States today” by the National Gang Crime Research Center. While there are 3,000 members of Latin Kings in New York City, one-sixth of them live in Brooklyn.
