BROWNSVILLE, Brooklyn (WABC) — A man who founded a gang in Brooklyn and then turned his life around left people in shock when he suddenly died, but a community is trying to keep his message alive.
“Me seeing the love that everybody has for Kells, and has for the movement made me understand my purpose a little more,” said Mequan “Mista” Thawney of Save the Generation.
The purpose and movement are one in the same at “Save the Next Generation.” It was founded by former members of two of the most dangerous gangs in Brooklyn, which came together two Saturdays ago for its first annual peace summit.
“Like having people from my side, people from KI and Kells side under one roof, nobody feeling tension, everybody enjoying themselves, kids running around, everybody just here for that one reason is push and putting peace first,” Thawney said.
Kea Kelly, a founding member, was front and center, pushing peace before a crowd of nearly 300 people.
“He had a lot of people’s attention, finally,” Thawney said.
Shortly after answering a question, the 34-year-old suffered a medical emergency on stage. He died at the hospital.
“I feel like he, he died for the cause. Like he went out, meaning what he said and living in his purpose,” said Kenmori Inman of Save the Next Generation.
Kelly’s last words in front of hundreds of people was a plea to gang members to abandon that lifestyle, but the public nature in which he died has given momentum to this movement.
“I feel like the algorithm is changing, and on social media, like everybody just talking about the streets and the traumas of the streets and everybody just choosing, like, you know, gradually just coming towards Saving the Next Generation,” Inman said.
After becoming a father, Kelly turned his life around.
———-
* More Brooklyn news
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
