My office secured a 30-year prison sentence this week for a gang member responsible for the shooting death of 14-year-old Aamir Griffin at a Baisley Park Houses playground. The defendant mistook the teenager, who was simply outside playing basketball near his home, for a rival gang member in the 2019 shooting.
The case is part of a larger conspiracy indictment we brought against 33 alleged gang members charged with murder and other crimes last year, perhaps the largest gang takedown in the history of this office.
At the center of the conspiracy was the blood feud between Southeast Queens street gangs Money World and rivals Local Trap Stars and Never Forget Loyalty. While the gang war was set off by a slashing in April 2019, the tensions and violence between the warring factions escalated with Aamir’s murder.
Immediately following the indictment, shootings declined significantly in the neighborhood where Aamir was killed.
Aamir's killer has been brought to justice but we know that the heartache continues for his loved ones. No child should feel unsafe going to a park and no parent should ever have to bury a child.
My office will continue to do everything in our power to get illegal guns and those who use them off our streets in order to prevent another family from suffering such a tragedy.
My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe.
In Friendship,
Melinda Katz
Queens District Attorney
