Shots fired as 10th St. gang rounded up

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Authorities say some of the most violent gang members are off the streets and will never see daylight again.

The 10th Street gang has been notorious on Buffalo's west side. Police say their leaders are now in jail, but it still didn't stop Wednesday's gunfire on their turf.

Brittney said, "This happens everyday on this street. It's ridiculous. It's always happening."

Just before 10 Thursday morning, about eight shots rang out on 19th Street near West Ferry. The workers inside LaNova Pizzeria could see people running from the scene. Brittney was in her home holding her baby when a shot went through her porch, and then continued on into another house across the street.

The bullet came through the front window. A lady was sitting with her little grandson and the bullet landed near them.

"It's not a safe neighborhood. I'm moving. I am. I called today my landlord I'm moving. I don't wanna live here anymore," said Brittney.

This happened an hour before a news conference declaring that the 10th Street gang has been brought down.

U.S. Attorney William Hochul said, "We in law enforcement are hereby taking back 10th Street for the law abiding citizens of this community."

On Wednesday, 27 alleged members of the 10th Street gang were named in a federal racketeering indictment. Half of them were already in jail and are now facing charges as an organized enterprise with drug trafficking. Michael Bobbitt is still wanted. His brother, Brandon Bobbitt, was one of those arraigned on Wednesday. Some are connected to three murders, including the June of '09 killing of a 14-year-old on Whitney Place, and two weeks later the killing of a suspected rival gang member on Ullman Street.

"The murder charges carry the possibility of the federal death penalty," said Hochul.

The 10th Street gang has been around since the 80's, and agents say their turf was bordered by Niagara, Auburn, Richmond and Carolina Streets, the same turf where the gunshots rang out Wednesday and Thursday hours after the arrests.

Buffalo Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda said, "This roundup yesterday is not gonna stop every shooting that takes place on the west side or other places in the city. I believe it will have a significant dent in the violence that has plagued the west side, but as far as the three shootings, I don't see a connection at this point."

Police won't speculate whether this could be another gang trying to move in now, but police say they are looking at other gangs and promise there will be more roundups like this in the future.