The Bronx has had a notably challenging summer—beyond just the heat.
According to NYPD data, District 4 has accounted for 50% of all shootings this year. This statistic stands in stark contrast to Mayor Eric Adams’s claims of significant decreases in gun violence across five districts.
One recent tragedy involved 17-year-old Anthonaya Campbell, an innocent bystander who was fatally shot during a basketball tournament in Baychester on a Saturday night.
“Festival Day has become my worst nightmare day,” her mother, Jennifer Talbott, lamented on social media.
Talbott was celebrating her own graduation, having earned a PhD from Heartbible International University in Connecticut. Anthonaya, unfortunately, wasn’t able to attend but called multiple times throughout the day to check in.
“I felt bad she couldn’t be here, and I kept telling her she should be,” Talbott recalled.
The joyous milestone was quickly overshadowed by the devastating news that her daughter had been shot. Anthonaya was taken to Jacobi Hospital, where her mother witnessed the heartbreaking scene.
When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my daughter in a bedridden state, her head injured and swollen, with a tracheostomy tube in place,” Talbott described, fighting back the emotion.
Prior to August 17, there were 21 shootings reported around areas like Baychester, Williams Bridge, and Woodlawn, compared to just 14 during the same timeframe last year. Tragically, murders in the Bronx have doubled, from four to eight.
Surprisingly, Saturday night’s incident won’t factor into those statistics yet.
Conversely, citywide, both shootings and murders have reportedly decreased by nearly 20% this year, which Adams highlighted at a press conference in July.
On Sunday, the mayor maintained that the recent spike in violence doesn’t warrant a curfew in the Bronx but noted plans to concentrate police efforts in critical areas.
“We’ve driven down crime across the city,” he told the media. “In the Bronx, the issues we face are often related to gang violence, especially among youth. The district attorney is discussing alternative programs and enforcement strategies to combat this.”
What we’re seeing, he said, shows promise. Officers are being deployed to key hotspots, working alongside quality of life teams. “That’s our focus this year,” he stated.
In the aftermath of the tournament, which occurred around 7:30 PM, a 29-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man, along with two others, sustained gunshot injuries.
Reportedly, ShotSpotter recorded a total of 48 gunfire incidents in the vicinity.
Authorities have arrested four suspects aged 16, 17, 20, and 25, with charges yet to be determined.
“The Bronx needs more officers,” expressed Bronx City Councilman Oswald Ferris. “What we witnessed is unacceptable. Increased police presence could help mitigate further shootings.”
“It’s shocking—young teens, just 13 and 14 years old, being shot,” the councilman added.
Other crime trends in the Bronx reflect a city-wide decrease overall.
While all NYPD Patrol Boroughs have cited reductions in overall crime, the 47th Precinct struggled with a notable 12.2% rise compared to last year. The 45th Precinct also saw a concerning increase of 11.46%.
Serious offenses encompass murder, rape, robbery, assault, grand larceny, and car theft.
Meanwhile, crime in Queens has decreased nearly 15%, with Manhattan North and Queens South experiencing drops of 6.7% and 5.3%, respectively.
The Bronx’s crime statistics, however, are likely to worsen following the recent shooting, which is suspected to be gang-related.
