Shootings Spiked 113 Percent In November, NYPD Says

New York City NY

04 December, 2020

10:52 AM

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NEW YORK CITY — A citywide, yearlong surge in gun violence continued unabated in November, according to newly-released NYPD crime statistics. Police counted 115 shooting incidents last month — a 112.5 percent increase over the same period in 2019, data shows. This year, shootings are up 95.8 percent, with a staggering 1,412 incidents of gun violence, according to data. The surge during the past 11 months reached levels unseen in years, police officials said. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea issued a statement pledging to address the challenge. "Whatever the challenge, our NYPD officers have shown innovation and determination to get the job done this year," Shea said. "Our work to reimagine the kind of policing New Yorkers deserve is always evolving, in line with our agency's best traditions to reflect the needs of everyone in our city." Crime overall is roughly level with last year, according to the statistics. Police counted 8,170 incidents in seven major felony categories so far in 2020, compared to 8,120 over the same period last year. Police officials said hate crimes in particular are dramatically down this year. They also touted efforts to curb gun violence. Gun arrests went up 112.3 percent in November compared to last year, authorities said. But the most violent of crimes — shootings and homicides — remained a major issue in November and this year as a whole. There have been 422 murder victims so far this year, a 38.4 percent increase over last year, authorities said.