In the spring of 2020, the life of 31-year-old Paul Hoilett was cut short on a street in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. On the evening of April 11th, at approximately 8:00 PM, Hoilett was walking near the intersection of Buffalo Avenue and Sterling Place. In a swift and brutal act, a man approached him from behind and fired a single shot, striking Hoilett in the head.
The assailant, described as a male with a medium complexion, thin build, and short hair, was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers. After the shooting, the suspect quickly fled the scene, escaping in a white Jeep Renegade SUV. Emergency services were called, and upon arrival, police found Hoilett unconscious. He was transported to NYC Health & Hospitals/Kings County, where he was pronounced dead.
Just a day prior to his murder, Hoilett had been arrested for attempting to break into parked cars and threatening an individual who confronted him. It was initially unclear if this incident was connected to his death. The New York City Police Department sought the public's assistance in identifying the suspect, releasing a surveillance photograph to the media.
The investigation into Paul Hoilett's death eventually led to a significant breakthrough. In September 2022, a superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court, charging multiple members and associates of the 'Bully Gang' with a range of violent crimes. Among them was Franklin Gillespie, also known as 'Spazz' and 'Frankie Gino,' who was charged with the murder of Paul Hoilett. Further court proceedings revealed a chilling motive behind another violent act connected to Hoilett's case. Gillespie was later convicted of conspiring to murder a man named Mike Hawley in Queens just four days after Hoilett's death. The reason for this was to prevent Hawley from providing information to the authorities about Hoilett's murder. The extensive federal prosecution ultimately saw the conviction of 53 members and associates of the Bully Gang on various charges, including racketeering, murder, and drug trafficking, bringing a measure of justice to the violent acts they committed across New York City.
