Man wearing leather jacket and hat standing on a street corner with street signs for First and Lander. Blue sky in the background.
Group of men sitting on outdoor steps, wearing casual and camo clothing, dated May 15, 1996.
Two men indoors, wearing winter clothing, one in a hat, shaking hands.
Man in a living room wearing a red bandana, black jacket, blue jeans, and tan boots, standing in front of a coffee table with decorative items and flowers, wall with framed pictures and mirror.
A man and a child standing in front of a colorful mural with the words 'Black History.' The man is wearing a khaki outfit and the child is in blue clothing. They are holding hands.
Two men in suits standing in front of a stone wall, one wearing a white shirt and patterned tie, the other in a suit with a patterned tie.
A person wearing a black beanie and a dark hooded jacket, smiling slightly, with a neutral indoor background.

Amidst the streets of Newburgh, New York, First & Lander: Newburgh’s Dark Side delves into the life of Terence “Tee Rexx” West, the once formidable leader of Newburgh’s most notorious street gang, "Da Original Dark Side.” In April 2000, federal authorities executed a major raid, apprehending key members of the Dark Side and their rivals, The Alleycatz, marking the largest federal investigation in the city's history at the time.

THE STORY

Newspaper clipping with headline '29 Arrests Disable 2 Drug Gangs in Newburgh'. The article describes a crackdown on drug gangs in Newburgh, supported by federal agencies, resulting in 29 arrests. A photograph shows U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White congratulating Newburgh Police Chief William Bloom with the American flag in the background.

In 2004, Tee Rexx returned from a 4-year prison stint to a city transformed by a violent power struggle between the Bloods and Latin Kings over the void left behind by his once dominant crew - ultimately earning the City of Newburgh its grim moniker as the

“MURDER CAPITAL OF NEW YORK.”

First & Lander recalls Tee Rexx's struggle to find his footing and rebuild his life post-incarceration, all for it to be shattered to pieces following the heart-wrenching loss of his sixteen-year-old son, “Chief,” to senseless gun violence on May 9th, 2015.

Terence’s story transcends the confines of a mere street tale, delving into broader themes of resilience, redemption, and the enduring quest for hope in the face of adversity. First & Lander: Newburgh’s Dark Side is an exploration of a community's resilience and the indomitable human spirit amidst the shadows of Newburgh's dark past, while shining a light on its uncertain yet hopeful future.

Black and white photo of a young person smiling

Terence “Chief” West, Jr.

August 18th, 1999 - May 9th, 2015