Algiers Gang Responsible For Rash of Shootings and Killings

Algiersgangresponsibleforrashofshootingsand killings

SoutheastLouisianaPress

DaneSuolk

October24,2006

The New Orleans Police Department confirmed a dozen shootings in the Algiers neighborhood are connected to a violent gang known as "D-Block " In the past two years, there have been a rash of shootings in the Fourth District, fifteen of those are linked to the D-Block gang

The gang, which is mainly composed of young adults ages ranging from 16-25, operates the crime-ridden Degaulle Manor apartments, a 365-unit housing project It has since been renamed The Woodlands apartments, located at 3300 Sandra Drive The low-income apartments have struggled from a high-crime rate and drug problem since the early 1990s Residents of the apartments stated the gang have been tracking narcotics through the apartments for years Kids make up 70% of the complex with single mothers Our children hear and see shootouts, drug dealing and prostitution on a daily basis," a resident said After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, criminals from desolated neighborhoods settled into low-income housing areas on the Westbank The Woodlands was one of the only housing complexes that was still partially opened Although half of the tenants at The Woodlands left, some stayed Those

That stayed were the drug dealers Nearby apartments like Jackson Landing and Parc Fountaine experienced a spike in criminal activity due to the new tenants With the wave of new tenants came crime, drugs, violence and the gangs The D-Block gang never left, instead they defended their turf with gun violence against outsiders Approximately 140 of the units at the Woodlands were vacated due to Katrina The remaining units are in terrible shape and in need of repair Ocers patrolling the area stated "Bordered up apartments serve as dope houses They loiter the courtyards and breezeways armed with high-powered assault rifles attached with 75-round magazines " Before the Hurricane, the Woodlands had a reputation as the most dangerous housing complex The corner of Vespasian and Murl became one of the biggest open-air drug markets in the city by the late-1990s In 2004, a man nearly escaped with his life after his car windshield was tagged by bullets from an M-16 assault rifle in the driveway of his building Months later on December 10, NOPD's Fourth District Capt Louis Dabdoub was injured in a shooting around the apartments after he stopped a suspected truant Last May, two Avondale brothers were found tied up in the trunk of a car with gunshot wounds to the head in the back of the complex Their bodies were decomposed by the time authorities arrived at the scene Homicide detectives said the D-Block gang are suspects in the slaying but there is not enough physical evidence to pursue the case

The manager of The Woodlands refused to comment on the D-Block gang and the alleged activities But residents and the Fourth District Police commander confirmed that members of the gang have indeed made the complex its base of operation since about 2002

Last Year in 2005, four members Nicholas Wix, Jamal Brooks, Hyran Brooks and Bryan Thomas were wanted for the double homicide of a man and women in the 1600 block of Murl Street that took place on June 27th According to the Times-Picayune, three of which were charged with first-degree murder in July Thomas became the fourth suspect for the murders in April of this year Thomas, 18, was gunned down in the Fischer housing projects last Month Authorities link Thomas and several other members to nine homicides in Orleans Parish and five homicides in Jeerson Parish committed from 2004 to now Ocials stated there are many drug crews operating in Algiers The Whitney Boys, Fischer Fools and McClendonville Posse, all have been identified by Fourth District ocers The D-Block gang is listed as the most violent organization Fourth District Commander Kirsch believes the bloody turf wars intensified after the death of a well known D-Block member known as "Bizzy " Bernard "Bizzy" Williams was a 17-year old whom police say was a beloved and respected member of the clique He was gunned down In August 2005 on Wall Blvd and Murl Street He was shot around 7 pm near the Christopher Homes development Willams was the sixth murder victim on Murl Street which got the moniker "Murder Mur l" Police said his death sparked several retaliation shootings up until Hurricane Katrina The war has since continued in the wake of Bryan Killer B Thomas death In July police arrested another known member Athony Thomas aka "Nut" in the Fischer housing projects along with five other men Thomas was in possession of a SKS assault rifle police alleged he used in a shooting in Degaulle Manor He was arrested and charged

Gangs is just the tip of the iceberg Drugs are the biggest problem Since Hurricane Katrina, its been a massive influx in illegal Immigrants all across New Orleans Metropolitan Many of whom have direct connections to drug cartels in Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico New Orleans drug dealers figured it out Algiers latino population increased 9% Jeerson Parish had the biggest influx in Latino Immigrants since Katrina Some of them brought their drug connects Degaulle Manor Aka "D-Block," have over 140 vacant units, making it a breathing ground for drugs Not only is the D-Block gang the most violent they are also the wealthiest Community leaders along with local authorities are working to fix the growing problems in the Algiers neighborhoods For the residents it seems a bit challenging going against murderous drug gangs

Southeast Louisiana Press. © 2006