2 indicted on charges of shooting 8-year-old in Medford last July
A bullet hole in a window of a house on Cedar Lane in Medford where multiple shots were fired into the home last July. One bullet grazed an 8-year-old boy, police said. Credit: James Carbone
Two reputed members of the Gorilla Stone Bloods gang were indicted Thursday for allegedly firing multiple shots into a Medford home last summer, striking an 8-year-old boy while he slept on the couch, according to Suffolk County prosecutors.
The child sustained minor injuries in the July shooting, which was allegedly in retaliation for a gang-motivated shooting earlier that day, authorities said.
"This case is just another example of the havoc and danger that gangs inflict," said Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney.
On Thursday, Ersen Kumas, 19, of Middle Island, was arraigned on six counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count each of second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven Pilewski held Kumas on $300,000 bond or $150,000 cash.
Michael Franzese, Kumas' Mineola-based defense attorney, said the gun used in the crime was not found in his client's possession.
“The gun was found several weeks after this allegation,” Franzese said. “A lot of discovery remains outstanding. At this point there is no direct evidence that can corroborate my client's involvement in the case.”
Prosecutors contend that Kumas and co-defendant Anthony Pena, 22, of Coram, are members of the Gorilla Stone Bloods, a subset of the Bloods street gang.
On July 25 members of a rival gang shot at Kumas in Middle Island, authorities said. Kumas was not injured in the shooting, which remains under investigation.
Hours later, Kumas, Pena and a yet unidentified third suspect drove around Medford with multiple loaded illegal firearms looking for rival gang members to retaliate against for the earlier shooting, prosecutors said.
Shortly before 1:30 a.m. on July 26, Kumas, Pena and the third individual traveled to a home on Cedar Avenue in Medford and used three different firearms to fire multiple shots into the residence, prosecutors said.
During the shooting, an 8-year-old boy was struck in the back. The child suffered a graze wound and was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, officials said.
Suffolk County police responded to the scene and found ballistics damage inside the living room, kitchen and a child’s bedroom.
Pena was arraigned March 14 on six counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count each of second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He was held on $250,000 bond or $75,000 cash.
Michael Matera, Pena's Melville-based defense attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
Pena is due back in court Friday while Kumas is due back in court May 6.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
Two body parts suspects in court ... Teen chicken keeper ... Rangers advance ... Penn upgrades
Two body parts suspects in court ... Teen chicken keeper ... Rangers advance ... Penn upgrades
