Surge in Youth Violence in New York City
Police Commissioner Jessica Tish indicated on Tuesday that youth violence in New York City has reached alarming levels recently, attributing some of the blame to the state’s “age-up” law.
Between 2018 and 2024, gun arrests involving minors, those under 18, spiked by an astonishing 136%, as noted by Tish and Mayor Eric Adams at a crime statistics briefing at City Hall.
In the same timeframe, Tish observed a staggering 192% increase in the number of youths firing guns, while gun violence victims rose by 81%.
“I’ve seen enough,” Tish remarked about the escalating youth crime, pointing to Albany’s lenient crime laws that have raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18.
Although the NYPD could not immediately confirm specific numbers reflecting the commissioner’s claims, Tish noted that, in 2025 alone, 36 out of 250 suspected gunmen—14%—were minors. Additionally, 44 shooting victims, also 14%, have been under 18 this year.
Tish suggested that the spike can be traced back to a decision made by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, who, now running for mayor, signed the age-up law.
This law shifted the age of liability for criminal acts from 16 and 17 to 18.
“We all agree—children shouldn’t be treated as adults within the justice system,” Tish explained. “But, as this age limit increased, the accountability for criminal actions decreased.”
She described how gangs are increasingly enlisting younger individuals to carry weapons, commit shootings, and engage in various crimes.
“It stems from an environment without consequences. Now, young people who commit crimes in New York City operate in an environment devoid of repercussions,” Tish explained.
Her concerns were echoed a week after a 13-year-old was arrested for the murder of a 28-year-old plumber’s apprentice from Yonkers, who was fatally shot while meeting a friend in the Bronx suburbs.
The teen surrendered on May 27, facing charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and criminal use of a firearm in connection to the death of bystander Dawd Marji on April 23.
This incident is part of a troubling trend that Tish highlighted, revealing that youth can both perpetrate and fall victim to gun violence.
In early May, Ebbett Jeffrey, a 16-year-old girl, was tragically killed by a stray bullet while riding her scooter near a schoolyard. NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny noted that the gunfire stemmed from rival street gangs.
“She was an innocent bystander, simply trying to take cover behind a brick wall when she was struck in the head by one of the bullets,” Kenny said, emphasizing that the victim had no involvement in the gangs’ conflict.
Tish’s remarks coincided with the announcement of a notable downward trend in some crime statistics. From January to May, the city recorded the fewest shootings and murders in history, officials reported.
Moreover, May set a record for the lowest number of shootings and homicides. The mayor and police officials also highlighted that more than 2,200 illegal firearms have been seized off the streets since the start of 2025.
