On Thursday, July 3rd, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that he has filed charges against nine young individuals responsible for 10 shooting incidents in the Brooklyn area. At the same time, he voiced his support for a reevaluation of a state law that makes it difficult for prosecutors to charge teenagers aged 16 and 17 as adults.
Gonzalez stated that the implementation of the “Raise the Crime Age Law” in 2018, which raised the age at which young offenders could be prosecuted as adults, though well-intended, should not serve as an excuse for young individuals to avoid accountability, especially in cases involving gun violence.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Ticsh also expressed agreement with this viewpoint, urging legislative bodies to reconsider the impacts of the law’s implementation.
However, advocates for the “Raise the Crime Age Law” cited a study conducted by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2023, which found a decrease in the proportion of young individuals involved in violent crimes since the law’s enactment.
On the other hand, Commissioner Ticsh presented firsthand data during a press conference, expressing concerns about youth crime in New York City.
“Since the enactment of the Raise the Crime Age Law in 2018 until now, there has been a 136% increase in arrests of children under 18 carrying firearms; a 92% increase in confirmed shooters under 18; and an 81% increase in young victims,” Ticsh said. “These numbers speak volumes. They indicate that due to changes in the law, accountability has been weakened, gangs have adapted to this situation, and they have started targeting younger members.”
Gonzalez stated that the nine individuals charged with 68 criminal counts in court on Thursday were between the ages of 15 and 20. The prosecution accuses them of involvement in 10 shooting incidents that occurred between 2023 and 2025 on the streets of East NY and Brownsville, resulting in one fatality.
These nine individuals are all alleged members of the “Road 2 Riches” gang, with authorities stating that the gang’s headquarters is located inside a building near Blake Avenue and Sheffield Ave in East New York. Local prosecutors mentioned that seven people are currently in custody, while two remain at large.
Ticsh mentioned that the NYPD has conducted over 40 gang-related sweep operations this year, resulting in charges against over 300 individuals involved in similar crimes, including those arrested in this latest incident. Nine of these sweep operations took place in Brooklyn, including one in February where 14 gang members were arrested for being involved in 19 shooting incidents near Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island.
“This proactive, targeted police work continues to drive crime rates to historic lows and is proving effective,” explained Ticsh.
Gonzalez lauded that 2024 was the “safest” year on record for Brooklyn.