NEW HAVEN, CT – A chilling portrait of gang warfare has emerged in New Haven, Connecticut, as federal prosecutors unveiled a superseding indictment against nine alleged members and associates of the “Exit 8” street gang. The indictment details a pattern of racketeering activity stretching back to 2018, encompassing drug trafficking, brazen violence, and at least three murders alongside a staggering 16 attempted murders.
The latest charges add three more names to an existing indictment returned in March, bringing the total number of defendants to nine. Those newly charged are Jaedyn Rivera, aka “Jae Honcho,” 22; Tyjon Preston, aka “TJ,” 21; and Samuel Douglas, aka “Blamm,” 25. They join Quaymar Suggs, 19; Kiveon Hyman, aka “Tiny,” 25; Donell Allick Jr., aka “D-Nice,” 24; Devin Suggs, aka “JB,” 19; Nyzaire Barnes, aka “Melo,” 19; and Antwan Hill, aka “Bandz,” 19, all facing serious federal charges.
Federal agents arrested Devin Suggs, Barnes, and Hill today, and they were immediately detained pending further court proceedings. The other six defendants were already in custody, having been charged in the initial indictment. The investigation, a joint effort by the ATF, FBI, DEA, and New Haven Police Department, paints a grim picture of a gang operating with impunity in the city’s Hill section and beyond.
According to court documents, the Exit 8 gang, named for the Interstate 91 exit in New Haven, has evolved, with younger members now identifying with the moniker “Honcho” – a tribute to a gang member murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020. The indictment alleges that Exit 8 members didn’t hesitate to use violence to eliminate rivals and maintain control. They allegedly stole vehicles, sometimes from out of state, to facilitate their violent acts.
The indictment lays out a series of specific violent incidents. On June 16, 2018, Douglas and Hyman allegedly shot at and attempted to kill a member and associate of a rival gang, also wounding a bystander. On January 24, 2019, gang members allegedly targeted another rival. The violence continued in 2020 and 2021, with alleged shootings involving Preston, Hill, Devin Suggs, and Rivera, all aimed at rivals or associates. On May 3, 2021, Rivera allegedly attempted to kill two members of a rival gang.
Beyond the bloodshed, prosecutors say the Exit 8 gang utilized modern communication methods – text messaging, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube – to coordinate drug deals, celebrate violence, and promote their activities. U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, along with the heads of the involved federal and local agencies, vowed to continue dismantling the Exit 8 gang and bringing its members to justice. The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests are possible as authorities continue to unravel the full extent of the gang’s criminal enterprise.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Press Release
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