D.A. Bragg: “OY” Members Charged In Murder Conspiracy For Homicide, Shootings & Courthouse Slashing

"OY" Gang Allegedly Engaged in Months of Violence Against Rival Groups

16-Year-Old Homicide Victim Allegedly Mistaken for Rival

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of 13 alleged members of the "OY" gang for allegedly committing months of violence, including a homicide and nine shootings, against rival gangs. Three defendants also allegedly smuggled weapons inside of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse and assaulted two rivals.

Nearly all of the violence occurred throughout 2024 and included shootings at delis and in the middle of streets near innocent bystanders. 14 semi-automatic firearms were recovered throughout the investigation.

In October 2024, 16-year-old Tresaun Clements was mistakenly identified as a rival gang member and allegedly assaulted by one of the defendants. Clements was not, in fact, a member of a rival gang.

12 of the 13 defendants are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and one count of Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. In total, the defendants are collectively charged with 66 counts, including various counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, among other charges. [1]

"As alleged, the defendants worked together to brazenly and indiscriminately commit a wide range of violence, including several shootings, a homicide and a vicious slashing, that harmed both rivals and innocent bystanders in Manhattan," said District Attorney Bragg. "This violence was needless and resulted in the death of a young man who should be alive today. The defendants allegedly engaged in criminal conduct for months across the Harlem and Upper Manhattan communities. Combatting gun violence remains my top priority. We are committed to a holistic approach and productive solutions that have meaningful impacts on public safety. My thoughts remain with Mr. Clements' family and loved ones for their devastating loss."

"These alleged gang members turned areas in Harlem into their own deadly playground - senselessly claiming the life of a New Yorker, placing many more at risk with reckless gunfire, and even brazenly smuggling weapons into a courthouse to carry out a violent assault on rival gang members," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "Street crews that show zero regard for human life have no business on our streets and the NYPD will stop at nothing to dismantle gangs that threaten our communities. I am grateful to the NYPD investigators and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for their meticulous work in bringing these dangerous individuals to justice."

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, the "OY" gang is based in Central Harlem and had ongoing feuds with several rival groups, including over drug sales. To assert the gang's status, the defendants would visit rival territory with guns and coordinate shootings. Their rivals were primarily based in four NYCHA developments: Drew Hamilton Houses, Harlem River Houses, Douglass Houses and Polo Grounds Towers, which are located throughout Central Harlem and Upper Manhattan.

Homicide

As alleged, on June 18, 2024, at approximately 11:50 p.m., ALFRED BERNARD, RONALD PENDERGAST, TYJAE SMITH, SHASHA DAVIS, DANDRE MURRAY, RASHAMEL JOHNSON, JASON BARNES and several other co-conspirators allegedly approached a group of individuals, including Tresaun Clements, near West 148th Street and Bradurst Avenue.

The defendants surrounded Clements and specifically asked if he was from Polo Houses before demanding his belongings. BERNARD allegedly punched Clements in the face, who fell to the ground and become unresponsive. Clements eventually slipped into a coma and died several weeks later. Clements was not a member of a rival gang.

In the months following Clements' death, the defendants allegedly celebrated the incident, including in a music video posted on YouTube.

Shootings

The indictment alleges nine different shooting incidents involving several of the named defendants, with the allegations as follows:

On February 16, 2021, at approximately 11:35 p.m., BERNARD, PENDERGAST and two co-conspirators took a bus to Drew Hamilton Houses with a loaded gun. Once there, the group walked around for several minutes looking for rivals. At approximately 1:00 a.m., PENDERGAST shot at a rival near West 141st Street and 8th Avenue.

On May 22, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., BOSCHI POPE, JR., JOHNSON, JORDAN PACE, JOEL LUCAS and co-conspirators walked near West 141st Street and Hamilton Place with loaded guns looking for rivals. POPE, JR., spotted and pointed at a group down the street, and JOHNSON, PACE and LUCAS all fired shots towards them.

On June 10, 2024, at approximately 10:48 p.m., LUCAS fired at least five shots at rivals who were in OY territory near West 140th Street and Broadway.

On September 26, 2024, at approximately 9:45 p.m., DAVIS and TYJAE SMITH walked to rival territory near West 163rd Street and Broadway with a loaded gun. A few minutes later, they approached a parked car. Someone from inside the car fired a shot at them, and as the car drove off, DAVIS ran into the middle of the street and fired three shots.

On October 24, 2024, ELIJAH NEALY allegedly fatally shot 16-year-old Clarence Jones, who lived in OY territory, in a separately charged case that remains open and pending. [1] Several hours after the shooting, a co-conspirator sent a message on Instagram vowing retribution, writing "I will not shed a tear until blood is shed." That evening, BERNARD, JASON BARNES and three co-conspirators traveled to Saint Nicholas Houses with two loaded guns. BERNARD fired shots at two individuals as a co-conspirator chased them and fired additional rounds.

On October 30, 2024, at approximately 7:38 p.m., while BERNARD, BARNES, SMITH, PENDERGAST and co-conspirators attended a candlelight vigil for Clarence Jones, BERNARD fired shots into a building.

On December 2, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., JOHNSON, MURRAY and a co-conspirator went to a deli across the street from the Drew Hamilton Houses and noticed rivals inside. JOHNSON fired shots into the deli, hitting and wounding an innocent bystander.

On December 27, 2024, at approximately 10:44 p.m., JOHNSON, AYDIN JONES, ZAKARIA CAMARA and LUCAS walked to the Harlem River Houses and hid across the street, waiting for rivals. LUCAS then shot at an individual from across the street.

On January 6, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., POPE, JR., JOHNSON, PENDERGAST, MURRAY, SMITH, JONES, and two co-conspirators walked to Douglass Houses with four firearms. They fired approximately 20 shots at two victims who were standing outside a deli on West 103rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

Courthouse Slashing

As alleged, on January 28, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., SMITH, PENDERGAST, POPE, JR. and other co-conspirators smuggled two scalpel blades through security at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse at 100 Centre Street. Once inside, the defendants went into Supreme Court Part 93 and spotted two rivals. At approximately 12:10 p.m., the defendants walked out of the court part and waited. A few minutes later, the rivals exited and the defendants followed, blocking their path to the elevator bank. The defendants surrounded the rivals and slashed them. Court officers then arrived to intervene.

Acknowledgements

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Jean Prisco and Sean Flatow, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Pierre Griffith (Chief of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit), Christopher Prevost (Deputy chief of the Trial Division) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Senior Major Case Analyst Jesse Hixon (VCEU), Major Case Analyst Felix Poley (VCEU) and Investigative Analyst Cristina Valianatos (VCEU) are assisting with the case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Police Officer Gerard Garced, Detective Daniel Madden and Detective Keith Figueroa.

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.