XPost: alt.politics.homosexuality, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns
XPost: sac.politics
From: aids@glaad.org
In article
wrote:
>
> ...He's just following Obamas' example.
>
A member of a violent Manhattan robbery crew that targets
patrons at Big Apple nightclubs — including gay bars — has been
arrested and charged with murder in the overdose deaths of two
partygoers, police said Thursday.
Kenwood Allen, 33, is allegedly part of the vicious gang that
has been drugging inebriated revelers and robbing them — with at
least 26 attacks since March.
“They target their victims leaving bars, offering drugs in some
cases, then either through force or when the victim passes out,
they remove jewelry, money, high-end watches and phones from
their victims,” NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said at a
press briefing.
Police said the crimes turned deadly when two of the victims
overdosed and died after partying at Lower East Side night spots.
Allen — who has 17 busts on his rap sheet — is charged in the
March 18 death of Nurbo Shera at a club on Seventh Street, and
the death of Ardijan Berisha at 52 Ludlow St. on July 30, Essig
said.
“We don’t particularly think that they’re targeting gay
members,” Essig said. “This is based solely on monetary gain.”
He said Allen was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week
on the murders, as well as two counts of robbery and one count
of assault in the robbery spree.
Police also arrested a second suspect but had not named that
individual.
Essig said cops have identified at least five members of the
crew, and that the investigation into the crimes is ongoing.
The Post previously reported that a gang of thieves targeting
gay nightclubs was terrorizing Hell’s Kitchen and surrounding
areas through their deadly game.
Police said Thursday that Allen’s crew’s MO is to take advantage
of drunk patrons.
“We believe that the perpetrators are targeting individuals that
are coming out of the bars late at night because they’re
intoxicated,” NYPD Lt. Dave Leonardo said.
“They’re approaching them offering them narcotics,” Leonardo
said. “At this point, based on our lab investigation, it looks
like our narcotic is laced with multiple narcotics that were
purchased over the black web, and then made into a cocktail.
“It was a mix of lidocaine, fentanyl, cocaine, and we believe
the lidocaine really had the effect of incapacitating these
people to the point where like the chief mentioned.”
He said the drugs take effect “almost immediately.”
Allen, of the Bronx, wore blue jeans and a green and brown plaid
flannel shirt at his Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment
Thursday.
He was hit with two counts of second-degree murder, three counts
of first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree criminal
possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-
degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree assault,
Manhattan prosecutors said.
Assistant District Attorney Brian Rodkey said in court that
prosecutors “intend to bring additional homicide charges” in the
case.
“The defendant drugged his victims with fentanyl in order to rob
them of their phones, credit cards or watch,” Rodkey said. “He
then left his victims to overdose on the street, not caring if
they lived or died.”
Allen’s lawyer, Timothy Pruitt, said his client works as a
barber in the Bronx.
Judge Felicia Mennin ordered him held without bail pending a
return court appearance on Feb. 16.
“Nobody should have to worry that a night out at a Manhattan bar
with friends could end in tragedy,” Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg
said in a statement. “This murder indictment is the result of a
long-term and ongoing investigation with our law enforcement
partners to keep our city safe.”
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