Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that two alleged Gorilla Stone Blood Gang members, Anthony Pena, 22, of Coram, and Ersen Kumas, 19, of Middle Island, were indicted on assault and weapons related charges, for allegedly firing multiple illegal handguns into a Medford residence in July 2023, striking an 8- year-old-boy while he slept on the couch. The shooting was allegedly in retaliation of a gang- motivated shooting earlier that day in which rival gang members allegedly shot at Kumas.
“My office is committed to ensuring that gang members, particularly those who fire a gun, are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” said District Attorney Tierney. “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.”
According to the investigation, in July 2023, Kumas and Pena were allegedly members of the Gorilla Stone Bloods, a subset of the Bloods, a nation-wide violent street gang. On July 25, 2023, members of a rival gang allegedly shot at Kumas in Middle Island due to Kumas’s affiliation with Gorilla Stone Bloods. Kumas was allegedly not injured in the shooting, and that incident is still under investigation.
Later that evening and into the early morning hours of July 26, 2023, Kumas, Pena, and others allegedly drove around the Medford area with multiple loaded illegal weapons, looking for rival gang members to retaliate for the alleged shooting at Kumas.
At approximately 1:26 a.m., Kumas, Pena and a third individual travelled to a home on Cedar Avenue and allegedly used three different firearms to fire multiple shots into the residence. During the shooting, an 8-year-old child who was sleeping inside was struck in the back. The child suffered a graze wound and was immediately transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment. Suffolk County Police Officers responded to the scene and found ballistics damage inside the home including the living room, kitchen, and a child’s bedroom.
On March 14, 2024, Pena was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice
Steven Pilewski, for the following charges:
- Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies;
- One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
- One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D violent felony; and
- One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony.
Justice Pilewski ordered Pena held on $75,000 cash, $250,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Pena is due back in court on April 5, 2024, and he is being represented by Michael Matera, Esq.
On April 4, 2024, Kumas was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Pilewski for the following charges:
- Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies;
- One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; and
- One count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony.
Justice Pilewski ordered Kumas held on $150,000 cash, $300,000 bond, $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Kumas is due back in court on May 6, 2024 and he is being represented by Michael Franzese, Esq.
The identity of the third shooter as well as others involved is still under active investigation. If you have any information, please contact the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, or Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-220-TIPS (8477).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Turk of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Kevin Staubitz of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.