Man pleads guilty in shooting outside court

BRIDGEPORT — A Bridgeport man pleaded guilty in federal court Friday for attempting to kill members of an alleged rival gang outside the Bridgeport courthouse in January 2020, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Officials believe Marquis “Garf” Isreal, 25, was a member of the “Original North End,” or the “ONE” gang, which is based in the Trumbull Gardens area in Bridgeport.

The gang is known for selling narcotics, laundering funds from narcotics sales, robbing drug dealers, stealing cars from inside and outside the state and using them to commit crimes as well as tampering with witnesses who might testify against them, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

On Jan. 27, 2020, Isreal and his associates shot at a black Chevrolet Impala, attempting to kill members of a rival gang, the East End gang, in front of the Bridgeport courthouse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Police responded to the area around 12:11 p.m., finding four people had been shot while sitting inside a black Chevrolet Impala, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Four people were shot, leaving one paralyzed. The vehicle had about 23 bullet holes in the driver’s side and windshield, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Just a few months before, Isreal had been shot and seriously wounded by one of his victims at a restaurant, officials said.

Isreal has been in custody since Aug. 6, 2020.

On Wednesday, Isreal was faced with the choice to accept a plea deal that expired Friday or prepare for trial.

Isreal pleaded guilty Friday to one count of attempted murder and aiding and abetting, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit murder. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 3 and he faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Charges against seven other co-defendants of Isreal’s in the case remain pending as of Wednesday.