Just two weeks after the U.S. designated Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a transnational criminal organization, two deadly shootings near a Brooklyn migrant shelter have raised further concerns about the presence of the group's presence in New York City.
Both shootings took place on Sunday night, just minutes apart from each other. One involved masked gunmen on motorcycles, around 11 p.m. outside a shelter at 29 Ryerson St. The 21-year-old victim, identified as Enny De Jesus, was targeted by the assailants.
Witnesses recounted the event, with one Venezuelan migrant, Angel, describing to The New York Post how a group he was part of was celebrating a birthday when the attack happened:
"We were sitting here, joking. We were celebrating a birthday. The two guys came on the motorcycle and shot him — four, five times. The two guys had masks. I was here. They shot from the bike and kept going."
A second victim, a 59-year-old man who had recently arrived at the shelter, was caught in the crossfire and is now in critical condition. He was an innocent bystander, and video footage showed him lying on the sidewalk with blood streaming from his head.
Police are also investigating whether another fatal shooting that took place earlier that night is connected to the gang as well. In that incident, a man in his 30s was shot in the chest and arm by gunmen in a blue sedan near the Navy Yard. The victim, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at Methodist Hospital.
Investigators believe the shooting is linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which has established a presence in New York City. Furthermore, the incident is reportedly tied to a turf war between Tren de Aragua and a spin-off crew that includes former members, The Post reported.
Two men on a scooter fitting the description of the gunmen were involved in an accident on Park Avenue and Taffee Place. One was injured and apprehended at the scene, while the suspected gunman, wearing a distinctive pink shirt, escaped and remains at large. No charges have been filed yet.
The U.S.'s recent decision to designate the gang as a transnational criminal organization allows law enforcement to allocate more resources to fight its increasing activities in the country. It also allows them to impose sanctions on its members, making it easier to freeze their assets and restrict their travel.
The announcement included the offering of millions of dollars in rewards by the State and Justice departments in exchange for information of some of its main leaders. Concretely, there is now an up to $5 million reward for Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero, also known as "Niño Guerrero" (Warrior Child); up to $4 million for Yohan José Romero, aka "Johan Petrica", and up to $3 million for "Giovanny San Vicente, aka "El Viejo" (The Old Man).
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