The number of young people arrested or identified as suspects in shootings in New York City has increased by 133% since 2017, according to NYPD data. This surge coincides with the implementation of the "Raise the Age" law, which altered the state's criminal justice system.
In the current year, 56 children have been arrested or identified as suspects in shootings. This figure is more than double the 24 recorded at the same point in 2017. The only years with higher numbers of teen arrests for shootings were 2021, with 57, and 2022, with 76.
The "Raise the Age" law, signed in 2017, raised the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18. It also allows individuals up to age 21 to be held in juvenile detention facilities instead of adult jails.
NYPD Commissioner Tisch recently highlighted that teens are increasingly implicated in shootings. While overall crime has decreased, the percentage of shooting incidents committed by individuals under 18 has risen to 21% from 19% compared to the same period last year.
Recent incidents illustrate the trend. On June 19, a 17-year-old was arrested for firing a gun in Times Square. The suspect, whose name was not released due to being underage, was apprehended with a recovered Glock pistol and charged with attempted murder, assault, and weapon possession. Investigators are examining potential gang involvement.
In another case, a 15-year-old boy was shot and paralyzed from the waist down on a subway in Queens. The incident occurred on April 27 as a train approached the 80th Street station in Ozone Park. Prosecutors stated that Matthew Rodriguez, 18, allegedly took a firearm from a 16-year-old individual and fired multiple rounds, striking the victim. Both Rodriguez and the 16-year-old were indicted on charges including attempted murder and assault. Rodriguez was ordered held without bail.
Reports indicate that the 16-year-old had allegedly shot and wounded the same 15-year-old victim in a separate incident in February. The current status of these individuals within the juvenile justice system, whether they are in detention or released, remains unclear in the provided notes.
Residents have expressed concern about the rise in youth violence. Myrna Rosado, 63, from the Bronx, worries about children's safety in parks due to incidents involving 15 and 16-year-olds. David Ramos, 45, believes that age should not be a mitigating factor for severe crimes like shooting someone, stating that individuals at 16 are aware of right and wrong. Another individual, who identified himself as Andrew S., suggested that certain crimes, particularly those involving attempted murder, should be tried differently to ensure accountability for young offenders.