Police Fear More Violence In War Between Two Brooklyn Teen Gangs That Has Killed Two

SMH. These kids are out there making up gangs and taking lives.

Teens from a of Brooklyn housing complexes are locked in an ongoing turf war that has left two dead and several others wounded in recent months, police sources said.

The clashes began as innocently as staredowns, growing into fist fights and then gunplay. The gang wanna-bes – some as young as 12 – hang out at the developments separated by about four blocks.

Police said the fisticuffs have exploded into gunfire between the Hood Starz, of Marcus Garvey Village, and the Brownsville Fly Guys, of the Marcus Garvey Houses. The two groups, police said, used to be allies. But there was a split late last year after one group thought the other was snitching. Over the summer, things grew violent.

Tyquan Spann, 16, who police say was tied to the BFG, was among the first victims. Sources said Culture Bermudez, 16, a member of the Hood Starz, shot Spann in the arm around 2:30 a.m. on June 27.

“They stand around. They look at each other and, hey, there’s an argument,” said Mark Tanis, a Brooklyn community activist. “They have to understand it’s not about toting a gun.”

The day after Spann was shot, his best friend and fellow Fly Guy, Isiah Tyler, 17, was gunned down while riding a bicycle on Strauss St. He was hit three times and died on Oct. 30, prompting yet another wave of violence.

A mere 24 hours later, police believe the Fly Guys struck back, killing Hakeem Gravenhise, 16, in front of his home on Union St. A source said his mother witnessed the murder while driving by in her car. Gravenhise, who police said ran with the Hood Starz, was awaiting trial in the shooting of an innocent bystander, 9-year-old Ronnell Gurley, when he was killed.

“It has to stop,” said Gravenhise’s aunt, Lisa Sanders. “It’s very senseless.”

Sanders, a community activist known as the Mother of Brownsville, said her nephew was a diligent student who enjoyed playing video games. About 50 unlit votive candles sat at a makeshift memorial yesterday in front of his Brownsville home.

Shortly after Gravenhise was killed, Bermudez was out on bail in the Spann shooting and looking for revenge. But he was nabbed Nov. 5 and charged with gun possession. The Brooklyn district attorney’s office requested $10,000 bail but a judge released him with no bail.

Just sad! Not to make light of a serious problem, but can we bring back the days when these neighborhood gangs were all about who dressed the flyest or danced better and serving their communities??

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