As New Yorkers woke up Monday morning to the news that at least eight people were shot overnight throughout the city, Mayor Eric Adams and Gun Violence Prevention Task Force co-chair A.T. Mitchell went on FOX5’s “Good Day New York” to talk about gun control.
“No one wants to see someone shooting in the air, shootouts on our streets,” said Adams on the morning TV program. “So, that is part of what we are up against and that’s why the Crisis Management Team, partnering with our agencies, our deputy mayors, and having a holistic approach to fighting violence, is why we are moving in this direction.”
Throughout the interview, Adams and Mitchell echoed the importance of gun violence prevention, targeting gaps in foster care, housing and education as contributors to shootings around the city. Additionally, the mayor mentioned stricter enforcement, calling out judges to “use the power when they have it to hand down sentences.”
Adams was optimistic, mentioning that the number of shootings and murders are actually down in the city. Homicides are 11.5% lower this year, according to the NYPD. Still, those stats serve as little comfort to those who were shot this past week. On Thursday afternoon, 27-year-old Avanti Frowner was shot inside a Bronx pharmacy and later died at St. Barnabas Hospital in Belmont, according to police. The killing is believed to be an attempted robbery. The Los Angeles-native was a father and up-and-coming musician performing under the name MoneyGangVontae. His son just graduated kindergarten last month. Police are looking for five individuals involved with the shooting.
On Friday night, 25-year-old Isaiah Bowman was shot and killed in East New York. He is survived by his 4-year-old daughter and his killing marks the 14th murder in the 69th precinct in 2022, already surpassing last year’s total. On Saturday, 21-year-old Delijah Farmer was shot and killed at a playground in Walter Gladwin Park, just down the block from where the Bronx man lived.
The weekend ended with the aforementioned series of overnight shootings. None were fatal, with all victims currently in stable condition. In Long Island City, a 25-year-old man was shot in the neck while trying to sell his Playstation 5. Also in Queens, a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were shot in Richmond Hill. In the Bronx, a 24-year old man was shot in Southview. Three others were shot at Starlight Park in Crotona Park East. In Manhattan, a 27-year-old man was shot in the foot in East Harlem.
Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w