Shootings Down for June as New York Police Report Almost 100 Percent More Gun Arrests

Shootings were down in New York City last month as officers made almost 100 percent more gun arrests than in June 2020.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) released new citywide crime statistics on Tuesday, reporting 165 shooting incidents last month—a decrease of 19.5 percent from June 2020 when the city experienced 205 shooting incidents.

The drop in shootings coincided with a significant increase in gun arrests. Officers made 361 gun arrests in June, a 99.4 percent jump compared with the same period a year ago.

Murders were also down by 23 percent in New York City. Thirty-three homicides were reported last month, compared to the 43 murders reported in June 2020.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the decrease in shootings and murders "speaks volumes" about the work of the NYPD as well as the impact of the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

"Look, we have a long way to go but we saw some real progress, we saw some change in the month of June," de Blasio said Tuesday during a press conference alongside NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Shea said that the June crime statistics showed the city was starting to "reverse the trend we've seen since last May of increased gun violence."

"Gun violence, make no mistake about it, is where our focus is right now with the NYPD," Shea continued, adding that it "devastates families, not just here but in other places as well."

The police commissioner said anyone carrying an illegal firearm in New York City will face consequences and should be taken off the street.

The city's overall crime index for June rose 3.1 percent compared to the year before. That increase was driven by major spikes in grand larceny and grand larceny auto, both of which increased by more than 30 percent. There was also a 16 percent increase in robberies, with 1,121 incidents reported.

But Shea said Tuesday that overall crime through the first six months of 2021 is down by 1 percent compared to this time last year.

Even over the Fourth of July weekend, Shea said the city experienced fewer shooting incidents than the year prior. Twenty-four shooting incidents occurred from Friday to Monday, compared to 45 incidents in 2020.

Authorities said Monday a teenager was fighting for her life in New York City after being shot in the chest late Sunday night. The victim's boyfriend told police an unknown man dressed all in black approached them on a Harlem street and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

"More work to do, but we're committed. We're on it with our partners in the criminal justice system, and better times ahead," Shea said.

Newsweek reached out to the NYPD for additional comment, but didn't receive a response before publication.