Mayor Zoran Mamdani stated on Wednesday that he is attempting to set up a meeting with the family of 15-year-old Jayden Pierre, who was tragically shot, amid criticism regarding his initial silence on the incident in Queens.
“I mentioned recently that this situation is indeed heartbreaking. It affects not just his family and friends, but many New Yorkers too, who were disturbed by the video showing people standing by and not intervening,” Mamdani remarked during a separate event.
“It’s also on us as a city government to address this issue. We trust the NYPD to hold those accountable,” he added when speaking to reporters.
There has been backlash from former Mayor Eric Adams, who criticized Mamdani for not responding more swiftly to the publicized shooting at Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans last week.
During a recent roundtable discussion on WNYC called “Mamdani’s First 100 Days: Lessons from LaGuardia,” Mamdani expressed his condolences to Pierre’s family and emphasized the urgent need to tackle gun violence in the city. However, he did not address Adams’ comments directly.
Adams took to social media, highlighting, “A 15-year-old was shot dead in a playground in Southeast Queens, and this isn’t making front-page news? Kudos to AG Letitia James and BP Richards for raising their voices. Where’s everyone else? @NYCMayor Mamdani? Anger should not vary by zip code. Every child deserves safety.”
Mamdani was absent from Monday’s vigil for Pierre, which was attended by loved ones and fellow lawmakers.
At the service, State Attorney General Letitia James urged the gunman to surrender, stating, “The police are aware of who shot Jayden. I encourage this individual to turn himself in before the NYPD locates you. They know who you are.”
Typically, mayors in New York visit the families of victims after such tragedies. For instance, after 12-year-old Cade Lewin was shot in Brooklyn on March 31, 2022, Adams quickly met with his family and held a press conference with his mother, urging the public to assist in finding those responsible.
