Long Island Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Firearm-Related Murder in Connection with Shooting Death in Riverhead

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jason Langhorn, a member of the “Lowrider Brims” subset of the Bloods and an associate of the “Red Stone Gorilla” subset of the Bloods, a violent criminal enterprise operating in Riverhead, New York, pleaded guilty to firearm-related murder for his role in the slaying of Thomas Lacolla on November 17, 2015, while attempting to kill another rival of the gang.  The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson.

Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.

“As a result of the outstanding and tireless work by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Long Island Gang Task Force, the Suffolk County East End Drug Task Force, the Riverhead Police Department and the Suffolk County Police Department, Homicide Squad, Langhorn has been held accountable for his role in an act of senseless gang violence that resulted in a man’s death,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis.  “It is our hope that today’s guilty plea brings a measure of closure to the victim’s family.”

According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, on November 17, 2015, Langhorn, along with two other members of the Bloods, went to a location in the Riverside section of Riverhead looking to kill a rival gang member.  They sprayed 39 shots from three firearms, including an assault rifle, into a vehicle they believed was occupied by the rival gang member, but instead was occupied by Lacolla, who was killed in the fusillade.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.                

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Boeckmann and Michael Maffei are in charge of the prosecution.   

Defendant:

JASON LANGHORN (also known as “Hov”)
Age: 39
Riverhead, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-606 (S-2) (JS)