Henrico beatings traced to gang initiations

Henrico County authorities revealed yesterday that a series of beatings earlier this year in the western part of the county were linked to gang initiation rites.

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Feinmel and police investigator D.C. Wood said at a preliminary hearing that two defendants and juvenile witnesses who appeared in court yesterday have ties to two well-known street gangs, the Bloods and the Crips.

"It's fair to say we are in the process of establishing what connections these people have to areas outside of Henrico County," Feinmel said after a hearing in which charges of malicious wounding, robbery and gang participation against two county residents were certified to a grand jury.

Facing a Feb. 3 trial are Mentor Bislimi, 18, of the 2100 block of Cool Brook Drive, and Kirkland Morris, 19, of the 00 block of Chase Gayton Terrace.

Witnesses yesterday, including former gang members and victims, said Morris and Bislimi led "a mission" in February this year that resulted in brutal beatings of three innocent passers-by and was designed to elevate the status of participants in the gangs. Morris is affiliated with the Bloods, and Bislimi with the Crips, according to testimony.

Though the Crips and Bloods are notoriously in conflict with each other, Morris and Bislimi apparently are childhood friends whose personal relationship predated their gang affiliations, testimony showed.

The attacks were carried out in the Nottingham Green and The Cloisters areas of western Henrico near Quioccasin Station Shopping Center, not far from the two men's homes.

Wood testified in court that investigations track the presence of the gangs in the Henrico area back four years and that the activity has gradually increased in scope and violence.

"The gang presence helps explain the senseless violence that we are seeing that on the surface seems to have no apparent cause," Feinmel said.

One victim testified yesterday that he was beaten to the ground by as many as three people and then kicked in the head. He lost temporary use of his arm and suffered a fractured cheekbone. Two other victims said they were attacked without provocation the same night, Feb. 22, in the early-morning hours.

Former gang members, who are facing charges in juvenile court, testified the attacks were designed to elevate the status of participants and to show loyalty. Search warrants discussed in court turned up various gang paraphernalia, from pictures of the defendants showing gang signs to telltale bandannas, or flags, and notebooks filled with gang lore and doctrines.

Feinmel and Wood declined to say how widespread the gangs are or what their membership numbers might be.

Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or .