“The Federal government has shown that they are unwilling to address gun violence nationwide, so it is up to us to address it locally,”
–Councilwoman Shanae Williams
By Dan Murphy
The Yonkers Police Department continues to investigate two shootings that occurred on July 16 at Locust Hill Avenue and another on School Street. The shooting occurred within hours of each other and five people were shot. We are happy to report that all five are now in stable condition and will recover.
At approximately 9:15PM on July 16th, 2022, the Yonkers Police Department responded to the area of Pitkin Park on Locust Hill Avenue on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, units located two victims of gunshot wounds. These victims were quickly transported to an area hospital. The first victim is an 18-year-old female who was shot in her right elbow. Her condition is stable at this time. The second victim is an 18-year-old male who was shot in the right side of his chest just below the collar bone. Doctors report that he may have a punctured lung. This male is in critical but stable condition at this time.
Later in the evening, just before 11:00PM, the Yonkers Police Department responded to the area of 43 School Street on an additional report of shots fired. Upon arrival, units located three victims of gunshot wounds. The first victim is a 42-year-old male who was shot once in the back. Doctors found that the bullet passed through to his chest. He is in critical but stable condition at this time. The second victim is a 30-year-old female who was shot once in her right arm. Doctors found that the bullet then struck her chest cavity and is now lodged in her left arm. She is also currently in critical but stable condition. The third victim is a 41-year-old male who was shot once in the back. Doctors report that the bullet appeared to hit his spleen and colon. This male is in stable condition at this time.
Yonkers Police currently have two detectives squads working on both cases and are asking the public for their help. Anyone with informaton to call the YPD Detective Division at 914-377-7724. Those with information can also submit an anonymous tip through our website OR by texting “YPD” and your tip to 847411.
“The Yonkers Police Department does not tolerate senseless acts of violence in the likes of what we saw last night,” said Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza. “Those that wish to do harm to our residents in such heinous acts have no place in this city. Our investigators will be working tirelessly to identify and apprehend the perpetrators for both of these incidents.”
At a press breifing the day after the shooting, Commissioner Sapienza said that a memorial service being held at a Yonkers park near the shooting locations, “ seems to have started this chain of events,” adding “I think it’s fair to say that there might have been a gang presence at that memorial service at that location and it was a target of opportunity,”
Two persons were shot at Locust Hill Avenue and three others on School Street. Sapienza said that it is believe that the guns used in the shootings were illegal, and the call for help from the Federal government for assistance in getting guns off the street was heard again through Yonkers.
Mayor Mike Spano renewed his call from in April, when a law enforcement gun bust resulted in a Yonkers cop getting shot. Mayor Spano said then,“There have been three shootings so far this year in Yonkers. When you compare our shootings to those in Rochester, who had 400 shootings last year, we have a proactive police department. In this case, our officers were going after bad guys and trying to take guns off the street. There is too much of this happening nationwide, something has to be done. Elm Street is a hot spot and has been one for a long time. It’s something we have to address.”
Spano has also been vocal in his call for more help from the State and Federal government to help get guns off the streets of Yonkers and out of the hands of younger and younger residents.
Dr. Jim Bostic, from the Nepperhan Community Center, held a town forum after the recent shootings. “We don’t want our children to die in the streets of our cities, there has got to be an alternative. That’s what today was about,” said Mayor Spano.
Dr. Bostic said, “We need to create an asset map that highlights were services are being provided in our city but also red flags where there are gaps and no services,”
On the night of the shootings, mutual aid wall called in and included some great police work by the Westchester County Police, who helped one shooting victim and has now now survived.
Councilwoman Shanae Williams, who represents the first district where the shootings took place said, “As the local representative and a resident of the downtown, to say that these ongoing acts of gun violence is a huge concern is an understatment. The Federal government has shown that they are unwilling to address gun violence nationwide, so it is up to us to address it locally.”
