A surge in gun violence in the Bronx this February has prompted increased NYPD resources and comes ahead of a planned reorganization of the borough’s police structure.
Rising Violence in the Bronx
As of February 15th, police sources report a nine-shooting increase in the Bronx compared to the same period last year. This increase includes the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Christopher Redding, a promising football player, for which a 17-year-old has been charged with murder.
According to Redding’s former coach, Christopher Lopez, the teenager was killed while attempting to protect friends during a shooting on February 11th at the corner of Broadway and West 238th Street in Kingsbridge. Lopez stated that Redding’s final act was “one of courage and selflessness, protecting those he cared about.” A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support his family.
The violence extends beyond the shooting of Christopher Redding. On February 10th, 41-year-old Adrian Dawodu was fatally shot on the platform of the 170 Street Station during a brawl captured on video. The alleged shooter, 27-year-old Alberto Frias, remains at large and reportedly asked his girlfriend for assistance in fleeing the scene, even inadvertently dropping a shell casing in his apartment.
Further incidents include the February 13th death of 26-year-old Amir Ahmad, who was found with a gunshot wound to the chest near Boston Road, and a February 16th shooting where a 37-year-old man was shot in the leg and robbed of his gold chain at a gas station on Bartow Avenue. He is expected to survive.
NYPD Response and Reorganization
NYPD data indicates that shootings in the Bronx were already up 26.3% as of February 8th. In response, the NYPD has deployed additional resources to the borough. Yet, an NYPD spokesperson cautioned against interpreting the data as a broad trend, stating that six weeks of data is “a statistically short time frame.”
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has acknowledged the Bronx’s historically higher crime rates compared to other boroughs. During her State of the NYPD address, she announced plans to divide the Bronx into two patrol boroughs – Bronx North and Bronx South – to increase police presence and resources.
Commissioner Tisch stated that the Bronx has “experienced more crime per capita than any other borough while operating under a structure that hasn’t kept pace with the demands placed on it.” She noted that last year, the borough accounted for roughly three times the number of shooting incidents and victims as Queens and Manhattan, and nearly as many as Brooklyn, while generating nearly one million calls for service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the NYPD to increase resources in the Bronx?
A surge in shootings this February, with nine more incidents reported compared to the same period last year, prompted the NYPD to deploy additional resources.
What changes are planned for the Bronx’s police structure?
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced plans to divide the Bronx into two patrol boroughs, Bronx North and Bronx South.
What did officials say about the recent increase in shootings?
An NYPD spokesperson cautioned that six weeks of data is a statistically short timeframe to determine a broader trend in gun violence.
As the NYPD prepares to reorganize its Bronx operations, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact crime rates and community safety in the months ahead.