LOWER MANHATTAN — A gang member who shot and killed two men in a turf war nine years ago has been charged with murder, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Abraham Cucuta, 32, unleashed “a hail of bullets on a summer night” in 2007 in a courtyard within Harlem’s East River NYCHA complex, said DA Cyrus Vance Jr.
The shootings killed 18-year-old Joshua Agard and 27-year old Manuel Sabater “for no other reason than to assert [Cucuta's] gang’s territory,” officials said.
Cucuta, a member of the Bloods, was shooting dice with Agard — a member of the rival Crips gang — and Sabater, a fellow Blood, and several other gang members at approximately 4:30 a.m. on June 7, 2007 at the housing complex, officials said.
Cucuta left the game and came back with a gun and sprayed the courtyard with bullets, officials said.
He attempted to shoot one of the members of the Crips gang but, instead, shot Sabater. He then shoved Agard to the ground and shot him multiple times, officials said.
Both victims died shortly after.
“This case underscores our commitment to seek justice for every victim of violent crime in every neighborhood of Manhattan,” said Vance.
“I thank my office’s prosecutors for their dedicated pursuit of justice, and for showing New Yorkers that cold cases are not forgotten cases.”
