In the late afternoon of August 21, 2023, Abdolaye Ba, a 24-year-old man, was outside the Best Food Mini Market on Blake Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn. It was around 3:25 p.m. when the sound of a gunshot cut through the air. Ba was struck in the face by a bullet and immediately rushed to Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center.
For three days, he fought for his life, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Initially, the New York Police Department suspected the shooting was gang-related, although Ba himself was not a known gang member. Investigators began searching for two individuals of interest they believed were associated with a local gang. The investigation quickly led to a significant breakthrough. Just days after Ba's death, a 15-year-old was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Due to his age, his name was not publicly released.
Further investigation revealed a larger and more sinister story of gang violence that had been plaguing the neighborhoods of East New York and Brownsville. In a sweeping 68-count indictment, nine alleged members of the 'Road 2 Riches' crew were charged with a string of violent crimes, including the murder of Abdolaye Ba. The defendants, whose ages ranged from 15 to 20, were identified as King Downing, 18, Mikeem Echevarria, 18, Jevonte Jaime, 17, Qvon Weaver, 19, Quinn Parker, 19, Deanthony Ortiz, 18, Anthony Wilkinson, 20, Korey George, 19, and Samuel Gaiter, 18. According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, Ba was with his brother, an alleged member of a rival gang, at the time he was fatally shot. The indictment detailed a pattern of violence that included at least 10 shootings, terrorizing the community and endangering countless lives. The accused gang members reportedly gloated about the murder on social media in the aftermath of the shooting. The extensive indictment charged the individuals with a range of serious offenses, including second-degree murder, conspiracy, and reckless endangerment.
