Binghamton Killings Linked to Gang Activity

Binghamton police investigators believe the killings of two men in less than a week were not "isolated instances."

Mayor Richard David Monday afternoon said the deadly shootings were "not random acts of violence."

City Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said detectives were continuing to work to track down multiple suspects involved in the death of 24-year-old Tyquan Gumbs. His body was found behind an apartment house at 10 Fayette Street Friday night after he had been shot several times.

A few hours before Gumbs was gunned down, police arrested a suspect in the April 28 killing of 22-year-old Brandon Hernandez. That shooting occurred in the parking lot of a West Side after-hours club.

In response to a reporter's question, Zikuski said he did not believe the two killings in less than a week were the result of a "gang war." But he said police believe there are "gangs involved here."

The chief said investigators don't know the motives but that the shootings don't appear to be related "to turf or drugs or anything like that."

Zikuski said the suspect in the Orton Avenue killing, 26-year-old Jihad Ray, had been a member of the MacBallers gang. The chief said Ray apparently had been "thrown out" of the gang.

In the aftermath of the two shootings, Binghamton police are increasing patrols in "hot spot" crime areas. The mayor said more personnel in the detective division will follow leads and develop information in the ongoing investigations.

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