The reputed boss of violent Staten Island street gang Gorilla Stone Mafia (GSM) executed a rival gang member and went on the run for months, before returning this week to shoot another rival in the head as he slept, according to federal authorities.
John Pena, who also goes by the names Tragedy and Donn Tragg, appeared in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday where he was tied to two recent Staten Island murders.
Pena, 29, is accused of gunning down Mark Bajandas, 26, in the North Shore neighborhood during a memorial for another dead gangbanger on March 10 - shooting him more than 10 times at close range.
The suspect then allegedly went into hiding for three months before popping up again Tuesday where he is believed to have killed again.
Francesco 'Franky' Gonzalez, 23, was shot in the face while he slept next to his girlfriend in his apartment.
John Pena (pictured) - the reputed boss of violent Staten Island street gang Gorilla Stone Mafia (GSM) -executed a rival gang member and went on the run for months, before returning this week to shoot another rival in the head as he slept, according to federal authorities
Pena is accused of gunning down Mark Bajandas, 26, (left) in the North Shore neighborhood in March. He then allegedly went into hiding for three months before popping up again Tuesday and allegedly killing Francesco 'Franky' Gonzalez, 23, (right) was shot in the face while he slept next to his girlfriend in his apartment in New Brighton
Pena was arraigned in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday on one count of felony possession of ammunition in connection with the first shooting death of Bajandas.
In the detention memo, federal authorities say Pena fired more than 10 gunshots at close range at Bajandas at 75 Hill Street in Staten Island in the early hours of March 10.
The shooting took place as people gathered for a vigil near a basketball court at the Stapleton Houses project in Stapleton.
The memorial was for Avanti Brock, a former GSM member who was murdered around one year earlier in another gangland shooting outside a local bodega.
According to the court documents, police were alerted to the shooting just after 2am and arrived on the scene to find a 26-year-old man unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds.
Bajandas, of Mariners Harbor, had been shot at least 18 times, with gunshot wounds to his upper torso, right leg, both arms and both hands.
Bajandas, said to be another former GSM member, was pronounced deceased soon after.
Sources told local media at the time they believed he had been the target of the attack.
Around 11 shell casings found on the scene matched the type of ammunition Pena was charged with possessing - .357 ammunition manufactured by L-Tech Enterprises in Kentucky.
Pena 'fled shortly after he committed the murder', remaining on the run for several weeks, the court documents show.
He was indicted on April 1 on the felony possession of ammunition charge and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Pena stayed under the radar for weeks before he allegedly returned to Staten Island by the early morning of June 22 'where he is believed to have committed yet another murder,' the court documents state.
The March 10 shooting took place as people gathered for a vigil near a basketball court at the Stapleton Houses project (above) in Stapleton, Staten Island
John Pena (pictured), who also goes by the names Tragedy and Donn Tragg, appeared in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday where he was tied to the two recent Staten Island murders
A law enforcement source told SILive this referred to the murder of Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was asleep with his girlfriend in his apartment on Stanley Avenue, New Brighton, around 2.30am Tuesday when the killer forced his way inside and shot him in the head, the source said.
The murder is said to be possibly linked to a dispute involving his relationship with a woman.
Gonzalez, a father-of-three, was once tied to a crew in New Brighton, SILive reported.
He had just been released from prison about a month ago after being sentenced to jail in 2020 on drug and ammunition-possession charges.
Gonzalez had been arrested March 2019 when he sold cocaine to an undercover cop.
While awaiting sentencing, his apartment was raided and he was arrested for illegally possessing ammunition.
Gonzalez's friend told the local outlet Gonzalez didn't have 'a plan' on leaving prison.
'And you know how some
