David Williams, a 30-year-old Black man, was killed in New Orleans on June 16, 2016. His death is described as a targeted killing tied to an internal power struggle inside the Harvey Hustlers street gang rather than a random act of violence.

The feud reportedly divided the gang into factions: one loyal to Williams and another allied with the Hudson brothers, Melvin and Jermaine. The sequence of retaliatory killings began after the murder of Chad Jones, a Williams associate; Williams allegedly ordered the killing of Laval London for his role in Jones’ death, and London’s close ties to the Hudson brothers prompted the execution of Williams in retaliation.

A multi-agency crackdown called Operation Swagg Crazy followed, producing state and federal indictments and over 20 convictions on charges including racketeering and narcotics distribution. Some named gang figures, including Alcus Smith and Robert Williams, were convicted on multiple counts; a jury deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge against Smith and prosecutors planned a retrial. Specific convictions for the murder of David Williams are not separated out from the larger racketeering cases.

If anyone knew Williams, his associates, or has information about the factional violence in the Harvey Hustlers, please share what is known.