By Joe Johnson
A puported gang member with the nickname Triggahappy has been sentenced to probation in connection with his arrest over a year ago for shooting someone in a dispute concerning money.
In a plea bargain with prosecutors, 31-year-old Hanif Rahim Ali on Friday pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery by force in return for the dismissal of charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.
In accordance with the plea deal, a Superior Court judge sentenced Ali to seven years on probation and one year in confinement, which was reduced to time served for the period he spent in jail since being arrested in July.
According to police and court records, Ali was arrested for an incident that occurred on Dec. 27, 2022 at the Parkview Homes apartment complex to where Simoane Ashley Binns had taken a 54-year-old man with whom she had a dispute concerning money. After they arrived at a location in the 100 block of Florida Avenue, Ali reportedly shot the man in the leg.
Police have said that Ali belonged to the Bloods street gang, who was known to use the nicknames of Triggahappy and Hanif Blood.
Binns, who was arrested for aggravated assault, was said by police to have told the victim that she “would have someone harm him if he did not give her more money” and the victim was subsequently shot in a “set up" with Ali.
Although Binns had been arrested, the DA's office never sought an indictment by presenting her case to a grand jury.