Thugs in gun stash and carry
Pre-court trickery
Keep your friends close — and your guns closer.
Brooklyn thugs have been stashing their pieces at downtown construction sites while they go to court nearby, according to Borough President Eric Adams.
In explaining a recent spate of daytime shootings in the area, the copturned-pol said gangbangers are carrying guns to court and parole dates in case they run into rivals.
“It appears as though everyone that was involved in those shootings was in some way or another affiliated with the court system and affiliated with some sort of criminal behavior,” Adams said, citing information from police.
“People who are on their way to court appear to have hidden guns on construction sites and other locations,” he said.
In one incident, a hardhat called police after seeing someone stash a gun at a construction site near the courthouse at 120 Schermerhorn St., according to law-enforcement sources, who said po- lice recovered the weapon but did not find its owner.
“Any gang member won’t go into a foreign neighborhood without bringing a weapon,” a police source said.
Cops and court officials are now trying to better coordinate problem defendants’ court dates “so it’s not a concentration of people who have a beef with each other,” according to Adams.
“There’s not much we can do about stopping those people who are coming from other parts of the borough — but while they’re here, we’re going to coordinate the best we can.”
Downtown Brooklyn has been rocked by several broad-daylight shootings in recent weeks.
On Oct. 1, a man shot a rival at Pearl and Willoughby streets as several nearby schools were letting out for the day.
And three people — including two innocent bystanders — were shot when someone fired into a crowded shopping strip at Fulton Mall on July 13.
The NYPD said it’s increasing area patrols.