A concerning rise in the number of murders in the New York City area has law enforcement and officials on edge. The first half of 2018 showed a slight decrease in the number of serious crimes committed overall, yet the homicide rate rose 8.1 percent over the same period last year. At of the end of June of 2018, 147 murders had already taken place in NYC. This means 11 more people were killed in the five boroughs than during the first six months of 2017, according to NYPD authorities.
Historical Murder Rates in New York City
This spike in the murder rate comes in the year following an amazingly low number of homicides in 2017. According to historical New York City crime data, that year there were fewer than 300 murders in the city. That was the fewest murders to take place in the city in many decades.
The murder rate had been on a steady decline in recent years since the all-time high of 2,245 murders that occurred in 1990. That year, the number also included 87 deaths that resulted from a Bronx arson fire at the Happy Land Social Club. Dubbed “New York City’s Largest Murder,” the fire was set by Julio Gonzalez when he poured a gallon of gasoline outside the club’s doors and set it ablaze.
The Bronx is the borough that ranks highest in the number of intentional killings with 21 more homicides than a year ago. Thirty-three of the murders have resulted in arrests. The 40th and 48th precincts have had the highest murder rate in the Bronx area. For this reason, police have ramped up resources in those precincts to try to combat this disturbing rise in murders.
Police commissioner James O’Neill commented, “While the overall crime rate continues to fall in New York City, it remains our top priority to forcefully combat the spikes in murder and other crimes where we know persistent pockets of crime still exist.”
Gang-Related Murders Driving Up Homicide Rates
Social media exploded with outrage at the recent killing of Bronx teenager Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz. A gang of young men dragged Guzman-Feliz from a bodega into the street in a case of mistaken identity. They then attacked the victim with a machete, killing him. Police have made 12 arrests in connection with the murder. Members of the Trinitarios street gang were among those arrested for the crime.
Members of this same gang stabbed another young man and smashed him with a log in the middle of a parkway median. Video surveillance cameras caught the attack on a routine recording. The teen is lucky to be alive, having suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the attack.
Roughly 30 percent of the murders committed in the city have been gang-related in the first half of 2018. Approximately 40 percent of the non-fatal shootings that occurred were attributed to gang violence. The majority of the gang-related homicides took place in the Bronx. The borough has seen a 64.5 percent increase over the previous year.
There are over 55 different street gangs in the Bronx alone. Crimes committed by gangs include rape, robbery, assault, murders, theft, drug crimes, and others. Gangs often force new members to commit crimes as part of their initiation into the group. The criminal organization Trinitarios formed in Riker’s Island jail as a way to protect Dominican inmates. Gang violence has been a serious problem in New York City since the early 1800s when different immigrant populations formed gangs to protect their own interests. Unfortunately, organized crime was a result, and gang warfare has erupted throughout the years. Law enforcement battles it out with these street criminals daily, as this current spike in gang-perpetrated crime is affecting the quality of life throughout the city.
Are Guns to Blame for the Escalation in NYC Murders?
More people have been killed by guns this year even though the rate of gun violence has decreased. Eighty-two gun-related deaths had occurred in the New York City Area by the middle of 2018. This is up 62 deaths from 2017, even though the overall number of shootings dropped 5.6 percent. It is unclear why this would be the case. One could guess that the intent for the shootings to end in death is the reason.
Help for Those Accused of Murder in NYC
Murders come with the stiffest prison sentences of all crimes. Defending a murder charge requires the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. If you or a family member needs representation, call Bronx Criminal Lawyer Troy A. Smith. With nearly 25 years of experience as a former New York City homicide prosecutor, Troy A. Smith is the best choice to defend you in any felony or misdemeanor charge. Serving the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and White Plains, the Law Offices of Troy A. Smith will help you build a strong defense for the best possible outcome. Call today at (212) 537-4029 or use our contact form to ask a legal question or schedule an appointment.
