NYPD commissioner discusses drop in shootings, rise in other crimes like robberies
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Shootings were down in New York City in August compared to the same month a year ago, as the NYPD made more gun-related arrests, but crime overall increased due to a spikes in robberies, grand larcenies and burglaries.
New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell unveiled the new numbers Wednesday, and even with a crackdown on guns and shootings, many in New York City still do not feel safe. And that perception, especially when it comes to unease around seemingly random and unprovoked crime, may be more important than the actual numbers.
The number of shootings in August was the fourth-lowest in any August since the early 1990s, the NYPD said, and there were notable decreases in the Bronx, southern Queens and northern Brooklyn.
Fewer shootings meant fewer murders, which were halved this August compared to last.
Sewell is expected to discuss the 30% drop in shootings and 54% drop in murder, which officials say is a sign that the NYPD's work to eradicate violence is taking hold.
In fact, the J'Ouvert Festival and the West Indian Day celebration in Crown Heights -- often plagued by shootings, was nearly violence free, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
He says officers confiscated two illegal guns and seized 40 dirt bikes during the celebration.
"We all know it, we know the ritual," Adams said. "Pick up the paper the day after West Indian Day weekend, and you look at the number of homicides. How many shootings took place? What happened at the parade? It didn't happen this weekend. It did not happen."
In total, the NYPD recorded 15 shootings over the three-day holiday weekend, citywide, which is less than half of the shootings that happened last year.
Still, other crimes are surging across the five boroughs.
Robberies, grand larceny, and burglaries are all up over 30%, which is causing an overall crime spike of 26% across the city compared with August 2021.
Year to date, shootings are down 12.4% over the first eight months of 2022, with 147 fewer shooting victims compared to the same period last year. There has also been a 12.1% decrease in murders year-to-date through the end of August.
"Any level of violence in New York City, or anywhere, is unacceptable," Chief of Department Kenneth Corey said. "We know that New York City is safer today than it was when we implemented our Summer Violence Reduction Plan in May. Throughout these months, the NYPD carried out more of its integral work, often in concert with our law enforcement partners, to develop long-term investigations focused on those few New Yorkers willing to pick up guns and use them."
RELATED | New York City touts safe Labor Day weekend, J'Ouvert and West Indian Day Parade
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