2 Gang Members Charged In 8-Year-Old's Shooting On Long Island: DA

MEDFORD, NY — Two Gorilla Stone Blood Gang members have been indicted in connection with a shooting that hurt an 8-year-old-boy while he slept on the couch of a Medford home in July 2023, District Attorney Ray Tierney said Thursday.

Anthony Pena, 22, of Coram, and Ersen Kumas, 19, of Middle Island, were indicted on assault and weapons-related charges, for firing multiple illegal handguns into the home in retaliation of a gang-motivated shooting earlier that day in which rival gang members shot at Kumas, according to prosecutors.

Patch has reached out to Pena's defense attorney, Michael Matera of Melville, for comment.

Kumas' attorney, Michael Franzese of Mineola, said the prosecution's case is based on circumstantial evidence.

"There really is no direct evidence linking him to the case," he said, adding that he just received the evidence a day or two ago and that there is still work to be done.

In July 2023, Kumas and Pena were members of the Gorilla Stone Bloods, a subset of the Bloods, a nationwide violent street gang, and on July 25, 2023, members of a rival gang allegedly shot at Kumas in Middle Island due to his affiliation with the Gorilla Stone Bloods, prosecutors said.

Kumas was not injured in the shooting, and the incident is still under investigation, according to prosecutors.

Later that night and into the early morning hours of July 26, Kumas, Pena, and others
are alleged to have driven around the Medford area with multiple loaded illegal weapons, looking for rival gang members to retaliate for the alleged shooting at Kumas, prosecutors said.

At around 1:26 a.m., Kumas, Pena, and a third person traveled to a home on Cedar Lane and allegedly used three different firearms to fire multiple shots into the home, and during the shooting, an 8-year-old child, who was sleeping inside was struck in the back, according to prosecutors.

The child suffered a graze wound and was immediately taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment, prosecutors said, adding, that officers found ballistics damage inside the home, including the living room, kitchen, and a child’s bedroom.

“My office is committed to ensuring that gang members, particularly those who fire a gun, are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” Tierney said. “Oftentimes innocent bystanders, such as the sleeping 8-year-old child in this case, suffer long-term consequences of gang rivalries. This case is just another example of the havoc and danger that gangs inflict, and I am committed to protecting our Suffolk County communities from such conduct.”

The identity of the third shooter, as well as others involved, is still under active investigation, prosecutors said.

Anyone with information, can contact Suffolk police Department, the District Attorney’s office, or Crime Stoppers, a confidential police hotline, at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Pena and Kumas have been charged with six counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count each of second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment,

Pena was additionally charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of criminal possession of a firearm.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on March 14 and was ordered held on $75,000 cash, $250,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on Friday.

Kumas was arraigned pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Thursday and was ordered held on $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, and $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on May 6.