BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) — Three men have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a series of gang-related murders, including the tragic shooting death of 22-month-old Davell Gardner Jr. in 2020.
Travis Scott and Akeem Artis, both from Bedford-Stuyvesant, were sentenced to 40 years in prison. Deshaun Austin, from Canarsie, received a 50-year sentence.
Austin was convicted for the point-blank murder of 27-year-old Janile Whitted, who was shot after leaving a nightclub in March 2020. Just four months later, Austin, alongside Artis, was implicated in the shooting death of Gardner Jr. Austin fired into a park where a cookout was taking place, killing the toddler and injuring three others.
Scott was convicted for the 2018 murder of Tyree Walker, a 35-year-old father of four, who was killed in an unprovoked attack while walking home.
“We need to make an example out of him to prevent others from following his path,” said Whitted’s father.
The three men were members of the violent “Hoolies” street gang, primarily based around the Roosevelt Housing Development in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“My heart is at peace knowing we got justice for the 22-month-old,” said Walker’s wife. “Now, we can finally move forward with our lives.”
A fourth individual, Jayquan Lane, was convicted for his involvement in the murder of Whitted and will be sentenced on May 18.
