Introduction to the Crisis
The Bronx is facing a severe crisis as stray bullets and young gang members who fire them are holding the community hostage. Police officers patrol the sidewalk after 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was shot to death in the Bronx.
Photo by Dean Moses
Hours after the deadly stray bullet shooting of Bronx schoolgirl Evette Jeffrey outside of Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School, another young female student in the area made a striking comment about life in the borough.
“We live in the Bronx. It’s scary everywhere we go,” the student, who goes by the name Rhiny, said of the recent shootings.
Recent Shootings
Jeffrey, 16, lost her life on May 12 when a boy two years her junior opened fire during what police called a schoolyard fight. Just two nights later, another teenager had a brush with death but survived.
On May 14, a 15-year-old boy said he was wounded by a stray bullet while walking with his mother near 2244 Williamsbridge Road, NYPD sources said.
Then on Sunday evening, May 18, another deadly stray bullet shooting struck the borough. This time, 57-year-old Kevin Jennings was sitting on his walker along East 188th Street and Marion Avenue in Fordham Heights when a stray shot struck him in the head, killing him.
More than just shooting statistics
These are only a handful of shooting incidents that have left bystanders either seriously hurt or killed. Despite the high-profile nature of recent shootings, gunfire has decreased this year, according to police data. Cops report that the Bronx has seen 90 shooting incidents, leaving 105 victims in its wake. This is down 14.3% when compared to the same time last year.
Still, these numbers mean very little to the families who have felt these unimaginable losses firsthand and say, despite the negative connotations of the Bronx, the area is filled with hardworking people who are forced to live with the threat of deadly shootings.
Even after everything the Jeffrey family has suffered through, Jose Sanchez, Evette Jeffrey’s uncle, says the community is well-meaning, but is being “held hostage” by violent actors.
“They’re yelling support out their windows to our family. They are beautiful people who seem to be held hostage in these neighborhoods when it comes to the violence,” Sanchez said.
The Human Cost
Evette Selena Jeffrey, 16, was shot and killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx on Monday night. Her family says she had aspirations of saving the lives of others.
Courtesy of family
Police patrol outside of the Bronx school where was Jeffrey killed.
Photo by Dean Moses
Though shootings have fallen in the borough, the area has seen a troubling spike of teen victims and participants in gun violence.
In 2024, Bronx shooting victims under the age of 18 rose by a staggering 200% compared to 2018, something Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has attributed to the raise the age law. Additionally, in that same time period, shooters under the age of 18 have surged by 233%.
Sanchez called the influx of teen shooters scary.
“Incredibly scary. They can’t make the right decisions. They’re not old enough, they’re not mentally old enough to make the right decisions. They’re going to lead with anger and someone else is going to get hurt,” Sanchez said.
The Bronx is ‘not a shooting range’
Following a spate of high-profile shootings, Bronx residents demanded more police patrols. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson is one of those who has lent her voice in a demand for more cops and an increase in youth programming.
“The tragic death of Evette Jeffrey is beyond heartbreaking, and my heart goes out to her family and everyone else who has been impacted by this senseless violence. Our borough is in mourning, and we are also calling for action. Too many of our young people are being caught in the crossfire,” Gibson told amNewYork. She said the city needed to invest in providing “real alternatives and access to opportunities” to keep young people out of harm’s way.
NYPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Borough Bronx Osvaldo Nunez
NYPD
In an interview with amNewYork, NYPD Deputy Chief of Patrol Borough Bronx Osvaldo Nunez said that authorities have heard the public and are taking action.
“The Police Commissioner has actually assigned the latest academy graduates to the Bronx,” Chief Nunez said. The Bronx received the largest number of recruits out of any other borough in the city. We received 238 brand new police officers who were all deployed to the Bronx, that’s way more than any other borough received. So, the police commissioner is committed, she hears the concerns that Bronx residents have and about wanting to see more police, and she came through.”
Conclusion
The Bronx is facing a severe crisis as stray bullets and young gang members who fire them are holding the community hostage. Despite the decrease in gunfire, the area has seen a troubling spike of teen victims and participants in gun violence. The community is calling for more police patrols and an increase in youth programming to keep young people out of harm’s way.
FAQs
Q: What is the current situation in the Bronx regarding stray bullets and gang violence?
A: The Bronx is facing a severe crisis as stray bullets and young gang members who fire them are holding the community hostage.
Q: How many shooting incidents have occurred in the Bronx this year?
A: According to police data, the Bronx has seen 90 shooting incidents, leaving 105 victims in its wake.
Q: What is being done to address the issue of gang violence in the Bronx?
A: Authorities have assigned new police officers to the Bronx, and there are calls for more police patrols and an increase in youth programming to keep young people out of harm’s way.
Q: How has the community been affected by the recent shootings?
A: The community is scared and demanding action, with many feeling that they are being held hostage by violent actors.
Q: What can be done to prevent further violence in the Bronx?
A: Investing in youth programming and providing real alternatives and access to opportunities can help keep young people out of harm’s way and prevent further violence.
