This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/nyregion/nyc-shootings-surge.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gun Violence Spikes in N.Y.C., Intensifying Debate Over Policing Gun Violence Spikes in N.Y.C., Intensifying Debate Over Policing
(about 16 hours later)
It has been nearly a quarter century since New York City experienced as much gun violence in the month of June as it has seen this year.It has been nearly a quarter century since New York City experienced as much gun violence in the month of June as it has seen this year.
The city logged 125 shootings in the first three weeks of the month, more than double the number recorded over the same period last year, police data show. Gunmen opened fire during house parties, barbecues and dice games, and carried out coldly calculated street executions.The city logged 125 shootings in the first three weeks of the month, more than double the number recorded over the same period last year, police data show. Gunmen opened fire during house parties, barbecues and dice games, and carried out coldly calculated street executions.
More than a dozen people have been fatally shot, including a teenager at her college graduation party and a clothing designer who was washing his car. “You have to go back to 1996 to have a worse start of June,” Michael LiPetri, the chief of crime control strategies, said in an interview on Monday.More than a dozen people have been fatally shot, including a teenager at her college graduation party and a clothing designer who was washing his car. “You have to go back to 1996 to have a worse start of June,” Michael LiPetri, the chief of crime control strategies, said in an interview on Monday.
The rising toll of gun violence has become part of a contentious debate over the future of policing in the wake of mass protests against police brutality. Police unions and their supporters have issued shrill warnings that the city was slipping into a high-crime era reminiscent of the early 1990s.The rising toll of gun violence has become part of a contentious debate over the future of policing in the wake of mass protests against police brutality. Police unions and their supporters have issued shrill warnings that the city was slipping into a high-crime era reminiscent of the early 1990s.
The city is not alone. Shootings are on the rise in other big cities across the country, including Chicago and Minneapolis, a trend that some conservatives have seized on to argue against the recent demands of protesters to cut police budgets and rein in officers.The city is not alone. Shootings are on the rise in other big cities across the country, including Chicago and Minneapolis, a trend that some conservatives have seized on to argue against the recent demands of protesters to cut police budgets and rein in officers.
On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city was sending more officers into the streets and declared he would not retreat from efforts to overhaul the Police Department.On Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city was sending more officers into the streets and declared he would not retreat from efforts to overhaul the Police Department.
“We’re not going back to the bad old days when there was so much violence in the city,” the mayor said at a news conference, “nor are we going back to the bad old days where policing was done the wrong way and, in too many cases, police and community could never connect and find that mutual respect.”“We’re not going back to the bad old days when there was so much violence in the city,” the mayor said at a news conference, “nor are we going back to the bad old days where policing was done the wrong way and, in too many cases, police and community could never connect and find that mutual respect.”
The mayor’s comments came after a particularly bad weekend in which 38 people were shot over 72 hours. The toll continued to mount on Monday, when a 46-year-old man was shot and killed in Brownsville by a gunman who ambushed him in the lobby of a public housing building, the police said. That evening, five people were shot at a candlelight vigil in Crown Heights.The mayor’s comments came after a particularly bad weekend in which 38 people were shot over 72 hours. The toll continued to mount on Monday, when a 46-year-old man was shot and killed in Brownsville by a gunman who ambushed him in the lobby of a public housing building, the police said. That evening, five people were shot at a candlelight vigil in Crown Heights.
Other cities are seeing similar violence: In Chicago, more than 100 people were shot over the weekend, the most in a single weekend since 2012, and 14 died. That carnage came just weeks after 24 people were killed among 85 people shot over the Memorial Day weekend. Many were caught in crossfire.Other cities are seeing similar violence: In Chicago, more than 100 people were shot over the weekend, the most in a single weekend since 2012, and 14 died. That carnage came just weeks after 24 people were killed among 85 people shot over the Memorial Day weekend. Many were caught in crossfire.
In Minneapolis, police said that 111 people have been shot in the four weeks since the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody, sparked nationwide protests.In Minneapolis, police said that 111 people have been shot in the four weeks since the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody, sparked nationwide protests.
Nationally, homicide rates were already rising in 64 large American cities for the first three months of 2020 over the previous three years, but on average the pandemic caused them to stall briefly, before ticking up again in May, said Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Rosenfeld is also a co-author of a study about homicide rates during the pandemic to be released Thursday by Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy focused on criminal justice and other issues.Nationally, homicide rates were already rising in 64 large American cities for the first three months of 2020 over the previous three years, but on average the pandemic caused them to stall briefly, before ticking up again in May, said Richard Rosenfeld, a criminologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Rosenfeld is also a co-author of a study about homicide rates during the pandemic to be released Thursday by Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy focused on criminal justice and other issues.
In New York, there were 166 murders through June 21, up from 134 over the same period last year, the police said.In New York, there were 166 murders through June 21, up from 134 over the same period last year, the police said.
Some of that increase can be attributed to both the strain of the pandemic and the recent unrest, although the primary reason cited by criminologists was the advent of summer — traditionally a high-crime season because people are outside for longer and tempers flare in the heat.Some of that increase can be attributed to both the strain of the pandemic and the recent unrest, although the primary reason cited by criminologists was the advent of summer — traditionally a high-crime season because people are outside for longer and tempers flare in the heat.
In New York, the police have linked the rise in gun violence to a bail law enacted this year, which limited judges’ ability to keep people in jail before trial if they had been arrested on certain charges, as well as the release of thousands of people from jail and prison to help curb coronavirus. Chief LiPetri said 17 percent of shootings involved people on probation or parole.In New York, the police have linked the rise in gun violence to a bail law enacted this year, which limited judges’ ability to keep people in jail before trial if they had been arrested on certain charges, as well as the release of thousands of people from jail and prison to help curb coronavirus. Chief LiPetri said 17 percent of shootings involved people on probation or parole.
Even veteran observers of the city’s crime trends viewed the jump in New York City as remarkable.Even veteran observers of the city’s crime trends viewed the jump in New York City as remarkable.
“I have been studying this for a long time. I have never seen that much of an increase ever,” said Christopher Herrmann, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice who once analyzed crime statistics for the New York City Police Department.“I have been studying this for a long time. I have never seen that much of an increase ever,” said Christopher Herrmann, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice who once analyzed crime statistics for the New York City Police Department.
Mr. Hermann said the spike in shootings likely stemmed from a “combination of warmer weather, Covid cabin fever and the traditional gun violence that we see in June, July and August.”Mr. Hermann said the spike in shootings likely stemmed from a “combination of warmer weather, Covid cabin fever and the traditional gun violence that we see in June, July and August.”
Some criminologists said there is a precedent for crime rising after unrest over police killings.Some criminologists said there is a precedent for crime rising after unrest over police killings.
Homicides rose nationally in the aftermath of the unrest ignited by the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. It went up 15 to 20 percent in the largest cities before subsiding again after two years, Mr. Rosenfeld said. When discontent with the police ran high, people were less likely to call them, deciding to settle matters themselves and driving violence up, he said.Homicides rose nationally in the aftermath of the unrest ignited by the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. It went up 15 to 20 percent in the largest cities before subsiding again after two years, Mr. Rosenfeld said. When discontent with the police ran high, people were less likely to call them, deciding to settle matters themselves and driving violence up, he said.
“There is every reason to believe that we will see an increase in homicides and other violent crimes associated with the current unrest,” he said.“There is every reason to believe that we will see an increase in homicides and other violent crimes associated with the current unrest,” he said.
Eugene O’Donnell, who is also a professor at John Jay, said that while the rise in shootings signaled a collapse in public safety in New York neighborhoods most affected by violence, it was too soon to predict a doomsday scenario.Eugene O’Donnell, who is also a professor at John Jay, said that while the rise in shootings signaled a collapse in public safety in New York neighborhoods most affected by violence, it was too soon to predict a doomsday scenario.
“The sum total of all of that is grounds to worry, but I have happily sat back and watched them predict Armageddon that hasn’t come for years,” Professor O’Donnell, a former city police officer and prosecutor, said. “Whether shootings go up or down, I think things have dramatically changed for the worst in communities affected by this problem.”“The sum total of all of that is grounds to worry, but I have happily sat back and watched them predict Armageddon that hasn’t come for years,” Professor O’Donnell, a former city police officer and prosecutor, said. “Whether shootings go up or down, I think things have dramatically changed for the worst in communities affected by this problem.”
Some of those neighborhoods are now seeing an influx of officers deployed as part of the police department’s annual Summer All Out strategy, in which officers in desk jobs and other duties are redeployed to the street to discourage violence.Some of those neighborhoods are now seeing an influx of officers deployed as part of the police department’s annual Summer All Out strategy, in which officers in desk jobs and other duties are redeployed to the street to discourage violence.
Updated June 22, 2020
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
About 300 officers have been sent this year to neighborhoods like East Harlem in Manhattan, Mott Haven in the Bronx, East New York in Brooklyn and Jamaica in Queens. Those neighborhoods struggle with conflicts between crews and gangs that police say fuel half of the shootings in the city.About 300 officers have been sent this year to neighborhoods like East Harlem in Manhattan, Mott Haven in the Bronx, East New York in Brooklyn and Jamaica in Queens. Those neighborhoods struggle with conflicts between crews and gangs that police say fuel half of the shootings in the city.
So far this year, police have solved just 28 percent of shootings with an arrest, Chief LiPetri said, even though that proportion is normally around half.So far this year, police have solved just 28 percent of shootings with an arrest, Chief LiPetri said, even though that proportion is normally around half.
Often, investigators know who is responsible for a shooting but lack sufficient evidence to make an arrest. Victims often refuse to cooperate with police investigations, and witnesses are afraid of retaliation if they come forward.Often, investigators know who is responsible for a shooting but lack sufficient evidence to make an arrest. Victims often refuse to cooperate with police investigations, and witnesses are afraid of retaliation if they come forward.
The state’s new bail law and the pandemic have made it more difficult to build those cases, police officials have said, because it is harder for prosecutors to leverage their power to keep people behind bars.The state’s new bail law and the pandemic have made it more difficult to build those cases, police officials have said, because it is harder for prosecutors to leverage their power to keep people behind bars.
Chief LiPetri said a slowdown in court proceedings because of the virus has also stymied the efforts to curb violence. Although police arrested more people for gun possession this year, he said many were released because their cases could not be presented to a grand jury within six days, the statutory limit for holding people in custody without an indictment.Chief LiPetri said a slowdown in court proceedings because of the virus has also stymied the efforts to curb violence. Although police arrested more people for gun possession this year, he said many were released because their cases could not be presented to a grand jury within six days, the statutory limit for holding people in custody without an indictment.
About 800 gun cases are still waiting to be presented to grand juries, he said, and 40 percent of people arrested on gun possession charges had been released without bail so far this year.About 800 gun cases are still waiting to be presented to grand juries, he said, and 40 percent of people arrested on gun possession charges had been released without bail so far this year.
In the past the New York police have relied on plainclothes “anti-crime units” to proactively hunt for people believed to be carrying illegal guns on the streets, but their aggressive tactics had led to many complaints and several police shootings. Commissioner Dermot F. Shea disbanded the units last week.In the past the New York police have relied on plainclothes “anti-crime units” to proactively hunt for people believed to be carrying illegal guns on the streets, but their aggressive tactics had led to many complaints and several police shootings. Commissioner Dermot F. Shea disbanded the units last week.
The city is instead leaning more heavily on nonprofits that employ “violence interrupters" — young men and women with past ties to gangs who intervene to try to stop street conflicts from escalating.The city is instead leaning more heavily on nonprofits that employ “violence interrupters" — young men and women with past ties to gangs who intervene to try to stop street conflicts from escalating.
One of the nonprofits in Brownsville was scrambling on Monday to figure out why a 46-year-old man was killed and who might want to retaliate. Anthony Newerls, the program director at Brownsville In, Violence Out, said it was the second fatal shooting in the neighborhood in 10 days. “We are completely overwhelmed,” he said.One of the nonprofits in Brownsville was scrambling on Monday to figure out why a 46-year-old man was killed and who might want to retaliate. Anthony Newerls, the program director at Brownsville In, Violence Out, said it was the second fatal shooting in the neighborhood in 10 days. “We are completely overwhelmed,” he said.
Not all of the areas of the city that have struggled with shootings in the past have seen increases. Iesha Sekou’s group, Street Corner Resources, oversees a stretch of Harlem that has not seen a shooting since April 25.Not all of the areas of the city that have struggled with shootings in the past have seen increases. Iesha Sekou’s group, Street Corner Resources, oversees a stretch of Harlem that has not seen a shooting since April 25.
Ms. Sekou said the changes brought on by the pandemic as well as the weather have created a ripe environment for shootings to unfold. Her group has focused on keeping tabs on who is getting out of jail or prison, particularly if they have been involved in shootings, because they might have unfinished business.Ms. Sekou said the changes brought on by the pandemic as well as the weather have created a ripe environment for shootings to unfold. Her group has focused on keeping tabs on who is getting out of jail or prison, particularly if they have been involved in shootings, because they might have unfinished business.
Usually, there is a party to celebrate the occasion, and she shows up. "We would go over there and give out masks and gloves, and we would say, ‘We need y’all to make sure there’s no violence,’” she said.Usually, there is a party to celebrate the occasion, and she shows up. "We would go over there and give out masks and gloves, and we would say, ‘We need y’all to make sure there’s no violence,’” she said.