The number of shooting victims in the 52nd Precinct in the Bronx has increased by 130% in 2024 compared to the same period last year, reaching 30 from 13, according to NYPD data.
Citywide, there has been an 8% decline in shooting victims and 11% fewer shooting incidents year over year; however, both numbers have increased by 19% and 15% respectively from five years ago.
In May, a triple shooting incident resulted in two fatalities after gunfire broke out during a dispute between migrant squatters and legal residents in Fordham Heights, Bronx.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the incident at a press conference, stating that “the older residents challenged three of the new arrivals, who then returned armed with bats, knives, and other weapons.”
The suspect, Josue Ruben Silva, 21, from Venezuela, who had a criminal record, is wanted for the killings.
An NYPD detective mentioned that the majority of shootings in the Bronx are gang-related, with the 52nd Precinct being particularly affected by gang activity.
Other precincts, such as the 103rd Precinct in Jamaica, Queens, and the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights and Inwood, Manhattan, have also seen significant increases in shooting victims.
Experts express concerns about the resurgence of violence in historically violent precincts, emphasizing the need for increased vigilance in these areas.
