On a warm summer evening in Brooklyn, New York, the joyful sounds of a family cookout were tragically silenced by gunfire. On July 12, 2020, 22-month-old Davell Gardner Jr., a bright and beloved little boy, was sitting in his stroller at Raymond Bush Playground in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Suddenly, two men emerged from a vehicle and opened fire indiscriminately on the gathering. A stray bullet struck the young male child in the stomach, inflicting a fatal wound.
Three men were also injured in the shooting but survived.
The senseless act of violence that cut short a toddler's life was later revealed to be part of a violent war between street gangs. Investigators determined that the shooters were members of the Hoolies gang who were targeting rivals. Davell Gardner Jr. was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of a conflict that had terrorized the community. The shooting was carried out by individuals in a three-car caravan, a method used by the gang to execute their attacks and evade law enforcement.
In May 2021, authorities announced a significant breakthrough in the case with the arrests of Dashawn Austin and Akeem Artis, two alleged members of the Hoolies gang. Their arrests were part of a sweeping 63-count indictment against 18 members of the gang for a series of violent crimes, including multiple murders and non-fatal shootings. Prosecutors identified Austin as one of the gunmen who fired into the crowd and Artis as the driver of the shooter's vehicle.
The legal proceedings concluded in the spring of 2024. Following a trial, Dashawn Austin was convicted of second-degree murder for Davell's death, along with attempted murder for the three other men who were shot. Akeem Artis was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the toddler's killing and attempted assault. On May 8, 2024, justice was served as the two men received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the tragic death. Austin was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison, while Artis received a sentence of 40 years.
