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The homicides, which took place between 2011 and 2016, include the slayings of Rubin Davis, Dean Daniels, Jovelle Stewart, Wilbert Francis and Mario Frater, said FBI Criminal Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Osborn.
The task force is offering rewards up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in each case. Since the reward was offered last week, there have not been any arrests, but there have been calls, the FBI reported.
"We use our intelligence to track crime hot spots and use that information to focus our efforts with our Safe Streets Gang Task Force," Osborn said. " We believed the five cases listed on the release have a chance to be solved. However, us choosing these five doesn't diminish the other cases that haven't been solved."'
Osborn believes some of the crimes may be gang related but says that others were people in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"In fact, Rubin Davis was merely playing a game in a park and was killed," Osborn said.
To help solve the crimes, the task force, is working jointly with their Westchester County counterpart to address any violent gang activity that may be connected to some of the homicides, he added.
But despite all of the law enforcement muscle focused on the homicides, Osborn believes the community is a critical partner in their effort to address violent crime.
"Many times people come forward because they know it's the right thing to do, but these rewards are an extra incentive and demonstrate our resolve to find those responsible for these horrendous crimes," Osborn added.
For those that are fearful, Osborn wanted to assure them that the task force will do all they can to protect them.
"We are asking for any information, no matter how insignificant people may believe it is, let us put that with the other evidence we have so we can solve these cases," Osborn said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call 914-925-3888.
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