Two alleged members of a violent gang alliance face federal charges in the killing of a sixteen-year-old boy on a Bronx street

New York City, New York – Federal prosecutors have unsealed a sweeping indictment that authorities say brings long-awaited accountability for a deadly chapter of gang violence that scarred the Bronx and claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy. The charges, announced this week by federal and city law enforcement leaders, accuse two men of playing central roles in a retaliatory killing carried out in broad daylight during a violent gang war that gripped New York City in 2021.

According to prosecutors, Ahmar Garcia, also known as “OB,” and Raheem Patterson, known on the streets as “Rah Rah,” are accused of murdering Nisayah Sanchez, a teenager who authorities say was affiliated with a rival gang alliance. The shooting, investigators allege, was part of an escalating cycle of retaliation between two competing networks of street gangs whose feud left multiple young people dead across the Bronx.

The indictment was unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, alongside Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. Federal officials say the case reflects years of investigative work and underscores a renewed focus on dismantling violent street organizations whose influence extends from neighborhoods to social media platforms.

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“These charges stem from a violent gang war that played out on the streets of New York and ended with the cold-blooded murder of sixteen-year-old Nisayah Sanchez,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “I want to thank the women and men of this Office and our law enforcement partners who never wavered in the over four years since Sanchez’s senseless murder. Our Office will bring gun-toting criminals who threaten the safety of New Yorkers to justice.”

Garcia, 25, and Patterson, 28, both Bronx residents, were transferred into federal custody from New York State facilities, where they had already been serving sentences for other violent crimes. They are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, with the case ultimately assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.

At the center of the case is the September 29, 2021, shooting that prosecutors describe as a calculated act of revenge. According to the indictment, the killing occurred during a period of intense conflict between two rival alliances of street gangs that had been trading gunfire, insults, and threats both on the streets and online.

Investigators allege that since at least 2019, these opposing groups had been locked in a pattern of retaliation. Each shooting, authorities say, was followed by taunts, celebratory posts, and music videos shared on social media. Those posts, in turn, inflamed tensions further, fueling new acts of violence and drawing more young people into the conflict.

On one side of the feud was an alliance that included the MacBallers, the Drillys, and the 800 YGz—groups that authorities say have historically aligned with the Bloods, either collectively or through individual members. Opposing them was a coalition that included the Sev Side, Third Side, and Reyway gangs, neighborhood-based sets generally associated with the Crips.

By the spring and summer of 2021, prosecutors say the rivalry had intensified into what amounted to an open gang war. Multiple shootings erupted across the Bronx, leaving several young men and boys dead. Law enforcement officials say the violence was often impulsive, driven by perceived slights, online insults, or the killing of an associate, yet deadly in its consequences.

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It was against this backdrop that the fatal shooting of Nisayah Sanchez occurred. Prosecutors allege that Garcia and Patterson, acting alongside other members of their gang alliance, targeted Sanchez in retaliation for earlier killings and as a way to elevate their own standing within their gangs.

According to the indictment, Sanchez was approached from the side on a Bronx street and shot to death in broad daylight. Another individual, described as a rival gang member, was also shot and wounded during the same incident. The attack, authorities say, was swift and deliberate, unfolding in a public setting where bystanders were present.

“As alleged, the defendants’ callous disregard for human life—brazenly carrying out an attack in broad daylight and then boasting about their crimes online—will not be tolerated,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “For too long, these criminal organizations have terrorized neighborhoods and placed innocent lives at risk—leaving families shattered and communities living in fear. This indictment marks a decisive blow against the violent street gangs that have inflicted fear and devastation on our neighborhoods. HSI New York, the New York City Police Department, and the Southern District of New York are unwavering in our commitment to rooting out those who threaten the safety of our streets.”

Authorities say the violence did not stop with the Bronx shooting. Just over two months later, on December 2, 2021, Patterson is accused of participating in another attempted killing—this time in Midtown Manhattan. Prosecutors allege that Patterson and another member of his gang alliance fired multiple shots at a rival gang member as that individual was leaving a restaurant.

That incident, officials say, illustrated how the conflict between these groups was not confined to one neighborhood or borough. Instead, the rivalry followed its participants across the city, creating danger in areas far removed from the original flashpoints of the feud.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said the charges highlight the devastating ripple effects of gang violence and the need for swift, coordinated enforcement.

“Ahmar Garcia and Raheem Patterson allegedly turned a gang rivalry into the killing of a 16-year-old boy on a Bronx street in broad daylight,” Tisch said. “That decision ended a young life, devastated a family, and put an entire community in danger. When violence is carried out this openly—and then celebrated—it demands a decisive response. This case shows what focused enforcement and strong federal partnerships can accomplish, and why the NYPD will continue to pursue violent gangs before they can take another life. I thank Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in bringing these charges.”

The criminal charges Garcia and Patterson now face are among the most serious available under federal law. Both men are charged with murder in aid of racketeering related to the September 2021 shooting, an offense that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison or the possibility of the death penalty. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms offenses tied to crimes of violence.

Patterson faces additional charges stemming from the December 2021 Manhattan shooting, including attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, as well as discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Several of the firearms counts carry mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years, with potential maximum sentences of life in prison.

Prosecutors emphasized that the sentencing ranges are set by Congress and that any final punishment would be determined by the judge if the defendants are convicted. As with all criminal cases, Garcia and Patterson are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The case is being handled by the Violent Organizations and Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Patrick R. Moroney are leading the prosecution, with support from federal and local investigators who spent years piecing together evidence from shootings, social media activity, and gang affiliations.

Mr. Clayton praised the investigative efforts behind the case, highlighting the collaboration between federal agents and local police. He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance, reflecting the layered approach authorities say is necessary to address entrenched gang violence.

For residents of the Bronx neighborhoods affected by the 2021 gang war, the unsealing of the indictment is a reminder of a period marked by fear and loss. Prosecutors say the violence cut down teenagers and young men alike, leaving families grieving and communities struggling to make sense of how quickly disputes escalated into deadly encounters.

Law enforcement officials argue that the case also sends a broader message: that acts of violence celebrated online or justified as part of gang rivalries will be met with sustained investigations and, when warranted, severe federal charges.

As the case moves forward in federal court, it stands as one of the most significant efforts yet to hold individuals accountable for the bloodshed of that year. For the family of Nisayah Sanchez, authorities say, it represents a step—however late—toward justice for a life lost far too soon.