4 Men Indicted in Series of Gang Attacks, Slaying in Northeast Washington

Four men were indicted by a D.C. Superior Court grand jury on 92 charges in connection with a four-month series of attacks, including a slaying and several shootings, in Northeast Washington last year, officials announced Wednesday.

The four, who police said are members of the Todd Place Crew, are accused in shootings from April to July 2008 in and around the neighborhoods of Eckington and Bloomingdale, D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said.

According to authorities, the attacks were part of a feud dating back at least 15 years between crews operating within blocks of each other. The rival group is believed to be based on T Street NE.

"Over the course of four months, there were 15 victims of violence, six of whom had nothing to do with the dispute," Lanier said. The attacks "happened day after day after day."

Last year's violence between the two groups began with a shooting on Lincoln Road on April 11 and continued days later with two homicides during the evening rush along the North Capitol Street and Rhode Island Avenue arteries.

The men are charged in the slaying of Gary O. English, who was shot April 15 during a drive-by attack in the 2000 block of Lincoln Road NE. A 60-year-old bystander was wounded.

In December, authorities arrested and charged James C. Bates of Northeast Washington in the English slaying. On Tuesday, three co-defendants were added to the murder indictment and were included in charges of conspiracy, assault with intent to kill and weapons violations.

Also charged were Joseph A. Jenkins, Darnell Anderson and Edward E. Warren. The ages and addresses of the men were not available.

Officials declined to say what motivated the attacks, other than that the violence was provoked in part by a cycle of retaliation between street rivals.

"A lot of the violence is started by things that to most of us really makes absolutely no sense," Lanier said.

Many of the charges in the indictments were brought under the city's Criminal Street Gang statute of 2006, which allows for additional charges and penalties for crimes committed by gang members.

Lanier credited the indictments to the work of patrol officers and homicide detectives, and the cooperation of the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"This indictment illustrates the effectiveness of the statue to pursue and hold fully accountable those alleged to be involved in gang-related violence," Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips said in a statement.

If convicted, the men could face maximum sentences of life in prison. Officials said the investigation is continuing.