Police Investigate Shootings in Brooklyn, Manhattan as Weekend Gun Violence Continues Into Workweek
CBS New York, August 17, 2020
It has been a violent and deadly weekend for New York City.
The NYPD says seven people were killed and 51 injured in shootings since Friday.
President Donald Trump is hinting at possible federal intervention.
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“Neighborhoods are getting more dangerous that they ever were,” said Marimar Jarquin.
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Amid the spike in shootings and fears related to hotels housing emotionally disturbed homeless people, the unarmed and all-volunteer Guardian Angels deployed 60 members to the Upper West Side.
“When we first arrived 10 days ago, it was complete chaos,” said Curtis Sliwa, the group’s founder. “The cops are not responding, they’re not coming. You gotta take matters into your own hands.”
CBS2 saw neighbors thanking the group, but others worry it creates the possibility for more conflict because there is no agency holding them accountable.
“I’m really worried that by introducing civilian vigilante groups into the neighborhood, we actually make the neighborhood much more dangerous,” said Melissa Sanchez, an Upper West Side resident.
Among the other victims of this weekend’s spike in shootings is Paul Pinkney, 47, a father of two. Pinkney was shot in Prospect Park around 2 a.m. Sunday, after lighting a candle for a neighbor who was gunned down days earlier.
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President Donald Trump took to Twitter Sunday night, saying if Mayor Bill de Blasio can not get a handle on all this gun violence, the federal government will.
Monday the mayor offered his response.
“The president blusters and the president tries to draw attention to himself and rarely has much to back it up,” de Blasio said.
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The mayor says once courts can safely reopen, things will simmer down.
