Three Shootings in NYC on National Night Out Against Crime

Members of the Impact Repertory Theater perform on National Night Out in Harlem on Aug. 7. (Amal Chen/The Epoch Times)

NEW YORK—Triple shootings in three of the city’s boroughs on Tuesday overshadowed National Night Out Against Crime, an annual event aimed at promoting community and local law enforcement collaboration.

Three teenagers were shot at a playground in the Bronx, three men were shot in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush, and four more people were shot in Harlem, three on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, and the other on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. All the shootings occurred between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said gang activities were thought to be behind the outburst of gun violence. “We are attempting to adapt our strategies to address this,” he said.

Councilman Jumaane Williams said in a statement that incidents like these further emphasize the need for the government to support community-based anti-violence initiatives.

“My prayers for recovery go to the victims and their families of last night’s shootings,” he said. “We all must assure them that our commitment to reducing gun violence has never been more resolute. We can and will achieve better policing and safer streets for all New Yorkers.”

All of the 10 people shot Tuesday night are expected to survive. Two people had been taken in for questioning over the shooting on Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, NY1 reported.

Events Focus on Community

National Night Out events were held near the city’s various police precincts, with refreshments, music, and dance. Many precincts’ events focused on the arts, child- and youth-engagement, or both.

Shaminique Islur, 25, from the Impact Repertory Theater, performed at a Night Out near the 32nd Precinct at 135th Street in Harlem.

“We are a youth activism program, we call ourselves artivists because we believe in using the creative arts to change the world,” said Islur. “We believe that the change that we want to see starts in us, so we have to bring that change out of us and into the community.”

“Anything that brings us together as a people is powerful. … People won’t be afraid to walk around in their community and say hello to one another,” she said.

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