Long Island Gang Suspected Of Recruiting Young Children

NORTH BELLPORT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island gang has been recruiting children as young as 9 years old, according to officials.

As WCBS 880's Ginny Kosola reported, the street gang calls itself the Natural Born Killers, and Suffolk County officials said it is targeting young children.

A Newsday report said the gang is operating in North Bellport, grooming kids for gang activity in the future.

Children in the area have reported being beaten by teenage gang members.

The gangs target the young children with the knowledge that the criminal justice system will treat them with more leniency, according to the newspaper.

Suffolk County police have launched an investigation, and the department has rejoined a federal anti-gang task force.

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