A 15-year-old boy was injured in a shooting around 9 pm on Thursday, January 19th. According to the NYPD, the teenager was outside the Eagle Academy for Young Men in Brownsville when he allegedly got into a dispute with a 17-year-old boy who then shot him with a firearm. The boy was treated and released from Kings County hospital in stable condition. The 17-year-old shooter was taken into police custody at the scene of the crime. He is facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon.
The 15-year-old’s shooting is yet another incident in the worrying trend of New York youth’s involvement in violent situations. The first few weeks of the new year have seen a spat of several violent incidents occurring involving New Yorkers under the age of 18. There have been stabbings and shootings with a host of them resulting in death. Shootings seem to be more prevalent. According to statistics provided by the NYPD, 157 people under the age of 18 were either killed or injured by gunfire in 2022. It is an increase of 20 incidents when compared to 2021. The number of teenagers charged with gun crimes has also increased.
The NYPD Chief of Detectives, James Essig, blamed gang culture for the high rates of youth violence and increase in shootings.
Educators and students have highlighted increased security as a solution to the problem. “There should be more metal detectors,” said a 35-year-old Brooklyn school employee. “There is a lack of school safety in the building. Every morning when I come in I’m like, ‘God, please get me home safe.’”
The problem of violence affecting and perpetrated by the youth is continuing to increase. “It’s getting worse,” a 15-year-old Brooklyn student told the Daily News. “It’s a real thing. Before quarantine, nobody was doing all of this. People are dying in front of the school. That’s not cool.”
