Second alleged gang member charged in Valley Stream illegal party shooting

A volley of bullets rang out at an unsuspecting crowd of partygoers at an illegal underage party at Ocean Avenue in Valley Stream on Aug 21 at 8:30 p.m., according to police officials. Eight rounds from two .380 caliber handguns struck multiple people before two gunmen ran away towards the Queens border, police officials reported at a press conference on Saturday.

The alleged gunmen have now been captured after more than two weeks of investigation.

Kyle Matthews, 21, of Uniondale, an alleged member of the Bloods street gang, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead without bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 11.

A brief manhunt for a second suspected shooter led to the arrest of Isaiah Gonzalez, 21, of Far Rockaway on Friday.  He faces charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned Saturday at Nassau County Court in Mineola without bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 13. 

The shooting killed 20-year-old DeAndre Carter of Brooklyn who suffered a fatal chest wound and eventually succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital. A 12-year-old was standing beside the doorway of the venue when he was struck in the upper-left shoulder and was taken to a nearby hospital where he is currently found in stable condition. Two 17-year-old boys from Elmont were struck: one in the rear of his leg and the other in his knee. They were both treated and released from the hospital. A 17-year-old girl suffered a laceration in her hand.

Matthews and Gonzalez have outright denied any allegations of wrongdoing.  Gonzalez also denies any gang involvement. 

The party allegedly was hosted by associates of the rival Crips gang, said Detective Captain Stephen Fitzpatrick, who noted that none of the young people shot had any previously known gang involvement.  

"Our victim has no listed membership, but he's at a Crips party, so the perception is that he's a Crip for being there," said Fitzpatrick.

The illegal party was hosted at a rental hall at 85 Ocean Avenue known as Dopie's World where alcohol was sold to underage attendees, said Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. The illegal gathering was advertised as a "Foam Party" on social media, offering the unlicensed sale of alcohol and free admission to girls in the first hour of the event.

Camille Russell, the attorney for Deborah Young, the owner of the event space, said Young had no knowledge of any gang involvement at the party or that drugs were being sold there.  

Commissioner Ryder said with Matthews' checkered and extensive history with the law, he "should have been in jail" long before the tragic incident.    

• Matthews was first arrested for possession of a loaded firearm on Dec. 2021, released on his own recognizance, and later given three years probation. 
• One year later, Matthews was charged with reckless driving and running from police. He was slapped with 75 hours of community service and a $300 fine, noted Ryder. 
• In December of that year, he was arrested for having a loaded handgun and released on $50,000 bail while still on probation from his original charge. 
• Earlier this month, Matthews was charged with reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and reckless driving, only to be released on his own recognizance. 

Gonzalez has an outstanding Nassau County bench warrant for an arrest on May 2021 for criminal possession of a controlled substance.