NYPD "OPERATION MONEY GRANT" NABS 100 ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS IN HARLEM AFTER DEADLY TURF WAR KILLS INNOCENT GIRL

Cops took down more than 100 Harlem-based gangbangers on Wednesday, in sweep launched following the slaying of hoops star Tayshana “Chicken” Murphy, police sources said.

More than 400 NYPD cops flooded the neighboring Manhattanville and Grant Houses, near Amsterdam Avenue and West 125th Street around 5:30 a.m. the raid dubbed “Operation money grant.”



GRANT PROJECTS, HARLEM NY

There were 103 arrests in the sweep, of those, 41 were already in jail on other charges, police sources said. There were 29 search warrants executed in the operation.

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton was at the 33rd Precinct station house and addressed officers before the early-morning raid, sources said.

“This is one of the biggest takedowns in NYPD history,” a police source said.

The gangs busted in Wednesday’s raid are the same crews responsible for a violent turf war that resulted in the slaying of promising basketball star “Chicken” Murphy, sources said.

TASHA MURPHY

The highly recruited point guard from Murry Bergtraum High School was killed at the Grant Houses on Sept. 10, 2011.

Murphy’s murder prompted authorities to tackle this years-long probe that ended in Wednesday morning’s sweep, a police source says.

Gangbanger Robert Cartegena, who lived at the Grant Houses, was convicted two months ago for the senseless slaying and was sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars.

ROBERT CARTEGENA

Some of the alleged members busted on Wednesday were all laughs when they were hauled out in handcuffs.

One of them shouted, “Happy Stack Day!” as he was led out, an apparent reference to his gang, the “Staccs.”

Members of the “Make it Happen Boyz” and “Money Avenue” were the other groups caught up in Wednesday’s raid, led by the NYPD’s Organized Crime Control Bureau, Narcotics Division, Housing, and the Manhattan Gang Unit.

They were also joined by investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

A 57-year-old grandmother, who lives at the Grant Houses, said she was pleased to see the raid but didn’t believe it would have a major impact on neighborhood violence.

“I worry about my grand kids out here playing in the park. Anyone could get hit when they shoot,” she said, pointing to the front of the the building where “Chicken” Murphy was shot.
“It’s just sad. All of this mess should have been over when that poor child [Murphy] was killed.”
Even if those arrested Wednesday all go away, the grandmother said there are plenty of other wannabes ready to step up: “There are more of them, just waiting to fill their shoes.”
A Manhattanville Houses mother held hope that better days are ahead.
“I’ve got a 9-year-old son. I worry about his safety,” said said, following the sweep. “This craziness between `us and them (gang turf wars)’ has been going on for years and it really needs to stop before more kids get killed.”