Gangbangers as young as 14 terrorized a Bronx neighborhood for months with shootouts targeting rivals from a local housing project while often wounding innocent bystanders, law enforcement officials said Monday.
The teens — eighth and ninth graders by day — were carrying out the orders of a 28-year-old ringleader on the dangerous promise that they would rise through the ranks of their criminal organization.
“These defendants were 14 to 17-year-old boys urged on by men to elevate themselves in the gangs by committing attempted murders and assaults,” Bronx DA Darcel Clark said in a statement. “Innocent Bronx residents paid the price—four were wounded, one of them critically. We need to prevent violence and underlying trauma that results in the loss of lives and so many young people heading to prison.”
Nineteen people were arrested in the latest gang crackdown, including 10 suspects from a gang that operated out of the the McKinley Houses, and called themselves “McKillville.”
The other nine suspects were members of three other gangs that tangled with McKillville, Clark said.
Officials identified Tyreik “Tubby” Seth, as the reputed boss of the “McKillville” gang, and charged him with conspiracy.
Seth was in possession of a loaded 9-mm defaced pistol when he was arrested in front of 801 E. 161st St. on June 23, officials said.
Charges against the others included attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
Clark and other law enforcement officials announced the takedown at a news conference where they stood behind a table filled with deadly handguns seized as part of “Operation Red Zone,:” a joint initiative between the DA’s office and the NYPD.
Authorities said putting the community at risk wasn’t enough for the alleged gunmen. They even bragged about their exploits on social media., they said.
”These defendants turned communities in the South Bronx into their own violent playground by shooting at rivals, injuring four innocent bystanders, and placing New
Yorkers at risk while shamelessly taking credit for it on social media,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement, “Thanks to our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, we are holding these alleged gang members accountable.”
Officials said the gun violence took place from May 2025 to late April 2026 in a swath of the South Bronx. The alleged gang members planned shootings via text messages, shared custody of the guns, bragged about the attacks on Instagram, and used Citibikes purchased with stolen credit cards for quick getaways, officials said.
Among the shootings was an incident in September in which two innocent bystanders were struck outside their home. A woman was struck in the abdomen and had to have surgery. A man was grazed in the abdomen as well.