Tracing NYC Shootings' Links to Schools and Subway Stations

The proximity of the NYU Tandon campus to several busy subway stations, which are integral to the daily commute of thousands of New Yorkers, adds a layer of complexity and concern. It is alarming to observe that such violent incidents are not isolated occurrences but part of a broader pattern of shootings that have been happening with unsettling regularity in the vicinity.

This pattern raises pressing questions about the safety of spaces that are traditionally considered secure, like educational institutions and public transit hubs.This situation calls for a united front involving students, educational authorities, and law enforcement agencies like the NYPD. We must collectively endeavor to understand the root causes of these shootings, implement robust safety measures, and foster an environment where students can pursue their academic goals without the looming shadow of fear. As we delve deeper into this issue, it becomes imperative to not only seek answers but also to actively participate in creating a safer, more secure academic environment for everyone in New York City.

On November 6, 2023, a shooting at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering disrupted a normal Monday class session, highlighting a worrying pattern of violence around the campus. This incident, occurring near several busy subway stations, intensifies concerns about safety in areas typically deemed secure, like schools and public transportation hubs. The frequency of such events raises urgent questions about the safety of traditionally secure spaces and the correlation between violence and densely populated student areas or subway stations.

As a student in New York City, the increase in on-campus shootings warrants a deeper investigation into their causes and locations. Are these incidents more linked to educational hubs or busy subway stations? Understanding the spatial aspects of these shootings is crucial for enhancing safety and developing prevention strategies. A collaborative effort involving students, educational authorities, and the NYPD is essential to address the root causes, improve security measures, and ensure a safe academic environment free from the fear of violence.

The city has experienced an overall rise in violent crimes, including notable increases in shootings, hate crimes, and public transit attacks. However, a closer look at precinct-level data reveals a nuanced landscape:

• Brooklyn: Northern precincts, previously high in gun violence, saw a significant spike in 2020, followed by a marked decrease in the subsequent years.
• The Bronx and Upper Manhattan: These areas continue to struggle with elevated shooting incidents, some recording the city’s highest per-capita rates.
• Queens: Exhibits mixed trends. The Rockaways show a declining pattern in shootings, while areas like Jamaica witness a steady decrease. Conversely, precincts covering Rosedale, Floral Park, Ozone Park, and St. Albans report slight upticks.
• Staten Island: Demonstrates varied trends with the northern part experiencing an increase in shootings in 2021 compared to 2020, while the western part shows a decrease.

Law enforcement officials, academics, violence interrupters, and activists identify multiple reasons for the differences in shooting rates between precincts. Factors range from societal and structural issues like employment, poverty, drug abuse, and neighborhood conditions to specific actions like youth street crew takedowns and the impact of the pandemic overlapping with crises like opioid addiction.

• Multifaceted Causes: Precinct-to-precinct differences in shooting trends stem from a variety of factors, including societal structures, local interventions, and ongoing crises.
• Brooklyn Trends: The borough experienced a significant rise in shootings in 2020, followed by over a 20% decrease in 2021. Most precincts in Brooklyn, except for a few like Bushwick, have seen declines or stable rates.
• Brownsville (73rd Precinct): Recorded the city’s highest per capita shooting rate in 2020 but saw an 18% reduction in 2021, remaining one of the most affected areas.
• East New York (75th Precinct): Witnessed a 30% drop in shootings from 2020 to 2021, with a continued slight decrease into 2022.
• The Bronx: In contrast to Brooklyn, the Bronx saw over a 30% increase in shootings in 2021 compared to 2020, with precincts like the 42nd experiencing nearly 50% increases.
• Manhattan: All precincts above 110th Street, including Harlem and Washington Heights, experienced rising or consistent rates of shootings, indicating an upward trend in violence.

“The things that cause crime to go up and down are largely societal, structural,” said Jeffrey Butts, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “It’s about employment, poverty rates, drug abuse, types of drug being abused, neighborhood conditions.”

The recent spate of shooting incidents in and around New York City, particularly those involving schools and public transit, points to a troubling trend: the shooters involved are increasingly younger. This observation is not an isolated one but is part of a broader pattern observed across the city. The involvement of teens and even pre-teens in such violent acts is alarming and indicates a significant shift in the demographics of gun violence perpetrators.

This trend towards younger shooters may stem from a complex interplay of societal, economic, and cultural factors. These might include the pervasive influence of gang culture, the easy accessibility of firearms, systemic socio-economic disparities, and a lack of robust community and familial support systems. Additionally, the psychological impact of the pandemic, which has exacerbated feelings of isolation, anxiety, and disenfranchisement among the youth, cannot be overlooked.

The news and data from New York City underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies that go beyond law enforcement and criminal justice responses. There is a clear necessity for proactive community-based interventions, improved mental health services, effective gun control measures, and educational programs aimed at conflict resolution and violence prevention. Engaging with youth through schools, community centers, and social services is crucial in addressing the root causes of this worrying trend and in fostering environments where young people can thrive without resorting to violence.

The rising involvement of younger individuals in shooting incidents in New York City is a call to action for a multifaceted approach that combines prevention, intervention, and community engagement to address this complex and distressing issue.

The heat map above shows the concentration of shooting incidents in New York City. Based on the visualization, the areas with the highest concentration of shootings are depicted in the brighter, more intense colors (typically red or orange), indicating "hotspots."

From the map, these hotspots of shooting incidents are predominantly located in two main areas: the upper part of New York City, which could correspond to areas of Upper Manhattan and possibly parts of the Bronx, and the lower section of the city, which might include parts of Brooklyn and perhaps lower Manhattan. These areas show a greater density of shootings compared to other regions on the map, which are indicated with a cooler color gradient or no color overlay, suggesting fewer incidents.

To understand where shootings are most frequent in New York City, we count all the shooting incidents across the five boroughs. We then figure out the share of incidents in each borough compared to the city total. By coloring the boroughs differently on a map based on their share of shootings, and labeling them with their percentage, it becomes clear which areas have higher or lower rates of shootings. From this approach, we see that the Bronx has the highest rate of shootings at 36%, with Brooklyn following at 31.26%.

The precincts with elevated shooting rates may suffer from a lack of robust community engagement and accessibility that schools and subway systems often provide. Schools are not merely centers of education but also community hubs that can offer a sense of stability and social cohesion. Similarly, subway stations are not just transit points but also serve as arteries of the city, fostering economic activity and connectivity. Their scarcity in the regions highlighted as hotspots on the heat map could indicate a form of social and economic isolation that may contribute to higher crime rates.

Furthermore, the absence of such critical urban infrastructure could reflect deeper, systemic neglect that often coincides with various socio-economic challenges, including higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and a lack of community resources—all of which are factors that can fuel crime, including shootings. This conclusion underscores the importance of holistic urban planning that integrates essential services and amenities, which, in turn, may help in mitigating gun violence and enhancing the quality of life for residents in these precincts.

There is a strong geographical correlation between the locations of shooting incidents and areas with a higher concentration of schools and subway stations. This correlation implies that certain geographical areas are more prone to incidents, potentially due to factors like increased population density and accessibility. While this correlation is observed, it's essential to conduct further research to understand the causative factors driving this correlation.

The analysis primarily focuses on public schools, and it assumes that private schools may have different patterns of incidents or distinct security measures in place. This assumption stems from the understanding that private schools often have more resources available for security and may be located in different neighborhoods with varying safety dynamics. However, without data on private schools, the analysis does not provide a complete view of the overall safety landscape of educational institutions in the city.

The result of the series of maps highlights the significance of subway stations and lines in the occurrence of shooting incidents. It assumes that the high volume of daily commuters using the subway system contributes to the likelihood of incidents in these areas. This assumption underscores the need for a comprehensive safety strategy that considers public transportation hubs as potential high-risk locations.

Starting with gathering and integrating key data, we will obtain commuter numbers for each subway station from transit authorities and school enrollment figures from public and private educational institutions. This data should be combined with geographical information about schools and subway stations. Additionally, collect age data of individuals involved in shootings from law enforcement agencies, ensuring ethical handling of sensitive information. Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping shooting incidents in relation to schools and subway stations and perform statistical analyses to explore potential correlations between these factors and gun violence incidents.

The next step involves a deeper statistical analysis and contextual evaluation. Calculate shooting rates per commuter and per student enrollment, and use regression analysis to identify significant relationships. Analyze shooter age trends to determine if there is a pattern of decreasing age over time. This analysis should be contextualized with socio-economic factors that might influence gun violence, considering variables like police presence, community initiatives, and economic conditions.

Finally, compile the findings into a comprehensive report, supplemented with visualizations like heat maps and age trend graphs. Based on the results, we will be able to develop policy recommendations aimed at mitigating gun violence, focusing on identified trends and correlations. The study's conclusions could provide valuable insights for policymakers, community leaders, and law enforcement in formulating strategies to combat the rising tide of gun violence in New York City.

The analysis not only highlights the need for collaborative efforts in addressing gun violence but also points to a concerning gap: the insufficient response from educational institutions and law enforcement in tackling gun possession issues. There's a growing concern that these key stakeholders may not be fully addressing the complexities of gun control and its implications within school environments. This lack of comprehensive action could be contributing to the ongoing problem.

Educational institutions, often seen as safe spaces, have a critical role to play. Their response to gun possession needs to be proactive, encompassing education on gun safety, awareness programs, and strict enforcement of regulations regarding firearms on campus. However, there appears to be a shortfall in these areas, with many schools lacking adequate resources or policies to effectively combat the issue.

During the Q&A session after a 2021 NYU campus shooting,

Head of campus safety, Fountain Walker, said that the language used in the text alert to students should have been more specific — NYU only warned students about police activity in the MetroTech area, and did not specify that gunshots had been fired. 

“We definitely had a misstep for the opportunity to present more information,” Walker said. “We don’t ever want this thing to happen again, but I assure you, there won’t be an issue with communication or direction.”

According to the statement by NYU Spokesperson John Beckman, the university expressed concern for the injured student and the broader community, outlining the immediate steps taken to ensure the student received medical attention and support. The statement also mentioned that the university would engage with city law enforcement to discuss enhancing safety in the area.

However, if this is the only official communication found on NYU's website about campus-related shootings, and there have been several shootings involving NYU students in the past two years without further statements, it raises questions about the university's communication policies and response protocols in the wake of such incidents. The absence of updated public statements could suggest a lack of transparency or engagement from the university regarding ongoing safety concerns.

This perceived lack of response might contribute to unease among students and community members, who may expect regular updates and clear communication on safety measures and institutional responses to such serious incidents. It's important for educational institutions to maintain open lines of communication and provide timely updates to ensure the community is informed and supported in times of crisis. The community might benefit from NYU reviewing its communication policies to ensure they reflect the concerns and needs of students and staff, especially regarding incidents that directly affect campus safety.

Law enforcement agencies are also integral to this equation. Their responsibility extends beyond responding to incidents; they need to work on preventing gun-related crimes. This includes stringent enforcement of existing gun laws, background checks, and monitoring illegal firearm sales. However, there's a perception that law enforcement may not be effectively curbing illegal gun possession, especially among minors and young adults. This could be due to limited resources, challenges in enforcing laws, or gaps in the legal framework itself.

The complexity of gun violence demands a multifaceted approach. Addressing the issue requires more than just reactive measures; it needs a combination of preventive strategies, community engagement, mental health support, and stricter gun control measures. The lack of a robust response from educational institutions and law enforcement highlights a significant area of concern that needs urgent attention to ensure the safety and well-being of students and communities in New York City.

ESCAPE if you can, HIDE if you can't, FIGHT if you must.

But where are we supposed to escape, hide, or fight? As one of the many NYU students, we need a proper physical training, not an optional online active shooter training...