The middle of February came with a weekend in which at least six New Yorkers lost their lives in violence.
Christina Yuna Lee stabbed to death in her apartment bathroom allegedly by a man who followed her to her Chinatown home early Sunday morning. As a security video of the building shows.
In another case, a 56-year-old woman apparently killed by her niece in East Harlem on Friday, two men shot Saturday in the Bronx and even two teenagers facing attempted murder charges for shooting an off-duty police officer in the foot in Harlem.
Public safety expert and retired NYPD Lieutenant Sammy Ravelo attributes the wave of violence primarily to bail law reform.
“They get out of jail before they face a jury, a very drastic change that has been the reason why this crime wave has grown,” Ravelo said.
The second point he emphasizes is the need to stop the flow of firearms and ammunition to the five boroughs.
“The criminal element has looked for weapons in the southern states that are very easy to obtain and now we have a population of people with criminal records who have firearms,” Ravelo added.
Regarding the increasingly younger ages of those involved in violent crimes, Ravelo insists on the need to join forces with organizations and the clergy to establish prevention programs.
“Drug dealers and gang members are the people they go to because they are the people they see on the street, not the leaders, not the police. We have to bring more sports and music programs,” Raven said.
Ravelo.
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His advice to New Yorkers is to avoid going out alone as much as possible, especially at night.
“Until this wave passes, unfortunately you have to look over your shoulders because the criminal element is looking at you,” Ravelo said.
For his part, Mayor Adams promised not to let this violence go unchecked, stating that Lee’s case “is the definition of horror.”
Assamad Nash, also a Chinatown resident, was identified as the suspect seen in the video and has been charged with robbery and murder.
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