New York Celebrates a 25‑Year Break From Weekend Shootings
What a win for the city! On Monday, the NYPD announced that their latest weekend—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—went completely shooting‑free. That’s the first time in a quarter‑century that the Big Apple has enjoyed a peaceful trio of days.
Chief O’Neill’s Take
James O’Neill, the police chief, thanked reporters by saying, “We made it—no shootings or homicides this weekend.” He added, “It’s a moment of pride not just for the NYPD, but for all of us New Yorkers.” The last time the city enjoyed a clean weekend was back in 1993, the police confirmed.
Spikes Still Exist
All is not spotless: the weekend of Oct 6–7 proved “terrible” with several firings in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Authorities noted that while the city has hit a lull, spikes can still erupt.
Murders on the Rise Again
Numbers are creeping upward1 after a low in 2017 (292 deaths). In the first half of 2018, the city saw 147 homicides—an eight per cent jump over the same period in 2017, mostly centered around Brooklyn and the Bronx.
At the end of the day, the downtown streets feel a little safer. That’s a headline worth celebrating.
1: Murders refers to tragic, unplanned homicides, not the messy paint job on a lawn mower.
