CONN:Police seek gang leader in shootout on the West Side

[Christina Marie]

Police seek gang leader in shootout on the West Side

Stamford Advocate
By Zach Lowe
June 06, 2006

A lot of people involved don't seem to know what it was about.

Police are searching for more suspects in last week's West Side shootout, including a reputed gang leader who handed a gun to a juvenile and ordered him to fire on rivals, court records show.

The juvenile, a resident of Vidal Court and alleged member of the Crips gang, was one of two suspects police arrested last week in connection with the wild afternoon shooting involving a dozen people.

The juvenile, identified in court papers as Jean Prosper, 17, of 52 Merrell Ave., fired two or three shots at a group that included Baciany Rono, 20, of 11 Spruce St.

Rono dropped his state identification card near a car struck during the shootout, court records show. A passer-by found it and turned it over to police. They arrested Rono about a day later.

Police are not sure what prompted the shootout between two factions of the Crips gang.

The dozen or so participants were 'on the same team' during a monthslong war with the Bloods on the West Side, Capt. Richard Conklin said.

'There was some dispute,' Conklin said. 'A lot of people involved don't seem to know what it was about.'

The split triggered a dangerous scene in which four or five gunman fired about a dozen shots near crowds of onlookers, some of whom rushed toward the shots to try to determine what was happening, court records show.

Prosper and about five other men were walking from Virgil Street toward the Vidal Court housing complex on Merrell Avenue, court records show.

Rono and several friends were standing across Stillwater Avenue near Colahan Street, Conklin said.

An eyewitness saw a man in his 20s hand a gun to Prosper and scream, 'Bust that! Bust that!' court records show.

Prosper, who was charged with stabbing a student at Stamford High School in 2004, fired two or three shots toward Rono's group, records show.

A second gunman on Prosper's side, identified only by his street name in court papers, also fired at Rono.

Rono and his friends chased the shooters onto Virgil Street and fired several shots at them, according to court papers.

It is unclear how many shots Rono might have fired.

One of Prosper's allies fired over his shoulder at Rono and hid behind a house on Virgil Street, court records show.

Two of the bullets hit cars, a third struck a house on Virgil Street and a fourth tore into the leg of Robert 'B.J.' Hudson, police said.

A victim who was shot in the arm walked to Stamford Hospital, changed his mind and left without treatment, records show.

Police are searching for that victim.

Police charged Rono and Prosper with criminal attempt at first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment, records show.

Police are holding Prosper on $500,000 bond. Rono's is being held on $350,000 bond.

Police have said they expect to make more arrests.


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