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17 "Dub City" Gang Members Arrested, Antique Guns Seized
By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 31, 2012
Modified Aug 31, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Aug 31, 2012
Modified Aug 31, 2012
Share
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The Dub City gang in the Bronx (you may also know them as DC4L or Dub or Die) has been the target of an NYPD investigation since the fatal shooting of beloved gangmember Dontae Murray, aka “Tay,” in April 2011. Tay's death, memorialized in this Dub City YouTube video, sparked a wave of violence between Dub City and rival Bronx gang 280. Yesterday NYC's Special Narcotics Prosecutor announced the arrests and indictment of 17 alleged Dub City members, and the seizure of some very old guns.
Dub City operates in the area between East 175th Street and East 177th Street from Walton Avenue to Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. Three of the group’s top leaders, Jamel Elliot, Bruce Silva, and Baheem Teichera were among those arrested yesterday, and police seized a firearm, heroin, crack-cocaine, drug paraphernalia and ammunition during the searches. 19 guns in total were seized during the investigation, including two antiques: a .32-caliber Smith & Wesson dating back to the 1880s and a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson that could be 80 years old.
Prosecutors say the gang sold narcotics and committed robberies in order to make money to purchase firearms, jewelry and other goods, and have been involved in 14 retaliatory shootings in the wake of Tay's death, which Dub City blames on 280. Dub City is a big fan of Facebook, YouTube and text messages, some of which were shared by prosecutors announcing yesterday's indictments.
Many of the text message communications revolved around firearms, referred to as “grips,” “slammers” and “jackies.” “Situation,” “jacking” and “clapping” meant shootings. The phrases “come up” or “bum up” referred to committing robberies and “yankee” meant narcotics. Here's a sample of some of their exchanges:
- In March 2012, Dub City member Michael Busgith sent Silva a text message to warn him that there was about to be a confrontation with a rival gang on the block, prompting Silva to ask Busgith if he had a firearm. “U grippy,” Silva asked, to which Busgith responded that he had just bought a weapon and was eager to use it. “I just cop dis slammer and dyin to use it.”
- Silva told Teichera in a phone call that he was involved in a “hot” situation, stating, “I don’t want to be hot but the situation situated, feel me."
- Gang members allegedly recruited minors to assist in hiding weapons. In one text message, gang member Dramel Elliot assured a minor female member of WTG under the age of 16 that she was not just a “groupie” of Dub City but that she was in fact “jackin the hood right.” She was later arrested in possession of a firearm.
The 35-count indictment unsealed yesterday charges the defendants with Conspiracy, Assault, Menacing, Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Sale of a Firearm, and a slew of other charges. Now maybe the NYPD can focus their attention on the intimidating Union Square "Fountain Gang"?
Tagged
dub city
gangs
guns
the bronx
violence
original
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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