Manhattan has so much to offer in the summer, from attending outdoor concerts and performances, to barbeques, to sitting outdoors in a park. It is a time for friends and family to gather. Yet, too often, these gatherings can be tragically disrupted by gun violence, which typically spikes during the warmer periods.
This is particularly true in Harlem and other areas of Upper Manhattan, which have historically been chronic summer gun violence hotspots. As a lifelong New Yorker and Harlemite, I have seen this firsthand, and it is unacceptable and discouraging.
But I am proud to say that this year, and this summer specifically, has been different. As Manhattan District Attorney, combating gun violence is my priority, and we are achieving significant results.
It is extremely encouraging that gun violence continues to decline in Manhattan and across New York City, according to a recent announcement by the NYPD. Through collaboration with law enforcement partners, targeted enforcement strategies, and preventative investments with community partners, we are seeing a significant, sustained decline in gun violence in Harlem this summer.
Year-to-date, as of Aug. 31, overall homicides and shootings have dropped 30% in the six NYPD precincts encompassing West, Central, and East Harlem.
Homicides have decreased or remained stable in four of these six precincts. The 25th Precinct in East Harlem saw zero homicides year-to-date, compared to seven at this time in 2024 – a drop of 100%. Shootings are down in each of the six precincts compared to last year.
These stats mirror a significant decline in shootings throughout the entire borough. Homicides are down 37% and shootings are down 34% in Manhattan year-to-date. Furthermore, homicides are down 43% and shootings are down 66% compared to the same time in 2021, before I took office.
Here is how we are achieving this massive reduction in violence.
One key strategy is prosecutions, including those developed through long-term, proactive investigations. This year, we announced a series of major cases, including the prosecution of a Harlem-based criminal enterprise for a wide range of alleged street crimes and financial fraud. This investigation helped uncover two rival crews who allegedly accounted for approximately 50% of the shootings in the 23rd precinct over several months.
Strategic community investments and youth engagement can also help us identify young people who are at risk of gun violence and stop shootings before they occur. This summer, my office announced $295,000 in funding for youth gun violence prevention to eleven community-based organizations, seven of which serve Harlem youth. This is the fourth consecutive year my office has awarded this funding, which compensates participants who engage in meaningful programming aimed at addressing the root causes of youth gun violence.
Centering victims and survivors is the cornerstone of our work. I’ve met with dozens of survivors and their families, and it’s easy to see the profound impact gun violence has on their lives. Shootings create secondary trauma: fear of being shot as an innocent bystander, fear for loved ones, and an outsized impact on the feeling of safety in neighborhoods.
This trauma can metastasize into continued violence, which is why we significantly expanded the reach of our Survivor Services Bureau (“SSB”) during my administration. SSB supports victims, witnesses, and their families by connecting them to crucial services, including counseling, therapy, and mental health resources. Thanks to recent investments, SSB staff has doubled and engages with our Assistant District Attorneys at the earliest stages of cases.
The trauma of gun violence disproportionately impacts certain communities: in 2024, Black and Hispanic individuals comprised approximately 96% of shooting victims in New York City. Our Men of Color Response Team focuses on this population and engages them to address the complex challenges they face, preventing future victimization or harm as they move forward in their lives.
Finally, we are taking steps to address the growing number of ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms and gun parts flooding our city.
With growing technology, 3D-printed firearms can be made in your home with a 3D printer and materials purchased online and a file downloaded from the internet, providing instructions on how to assemble these weapons. In addition to prosecuting defendants who manufacture or sell these weapons, we are working to remove the online files that are used as the blueprints to make the 3D-printed parts.
We have engaged with the private sector to remove a significant number of these files and are calling on 3D-printing companies to adopt additional security measures. We have also proposed legislation to combat the proliferation of certain 3D-printed gun parts and to close the state’s 3D-gun manufacturing loophole.
Although the data is continuing to trend in the right direction, we know there is more work to do. One victim of a shooting is too many, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to drive down these numbers further and deliver safe communities everywhere in Manhattan.
Alvin Bragg is the current Manhattan District Attorney, and the 37th person elected to the office.