New York City Mayor Condemns Gun Violence After Tragic Shooting

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has strongly condemned the recent shooting incident in the Bronx, where a 12-year-old boy was tragically killed. Mamdani emphasized, “We cannot accept this violence as normal,” following the violent event on Saturday.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that the incident occurred near Elliot Place in the Mount Eden neighborhood. A witness recounted hearing five gunshots and seeing a boy, who was riding a bicycle, collapse on the sidewalk. The shooter fled the scene in a Jeep, according to a report from ABC 7. The boy, who was shot in the shoulder, was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital.

Additionally, a 34-year-old man and a 25-year-old individual were also injured, sustaining gunshot wounds to the foot and backside, respectively. Both are expected to survive, as per police statements. On that evening, investigators cordoned off an area around the Wanda Deli on Elliot Place and Walton Avenue.

Family friend Jose Sanchez expressed heartbreak over the incident, stating, “They’re great kids, they were just riding their bikes minding their business all the time and always at home.”

Mamdani, who took office on January 1, expressed his grief and support for the victims’ families on social media platform X. He wrote, “My heart breaks for his family, friends and all those who loved him. Their loss is unimaginable. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the other two victims of this shooting.” He also acknowledged the efforts of hospital staff and the NYPD, stating, “I’m grateful for the hospital staff, and the NYPD for their work to find those responsible for this heinous act.”

Mamdani stressed the need for a safe environment for children, declaring, “Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot.”

New York Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch provided data on shootings, noting 322 incidents and 381 victims between January and July. This is compared to 397 victims during the same period last year. The figures lacked a breakdown by age.

Mamdani’s administration continues to address gun violence, following previous incidents, such as the tragic shooting of a seven-month-old in Brooklyn in April and a shooting at a Coney Island barbecue affecting children aged six to fourteen. Robert Smith, 44, was later arrested and charged in the July 4 event. Additionally, young lives like Jaden Pierre and Marquise Byfield have been lost to gun violence in Queens and Brooklyn.

Mamdani has consistently voiced concern over gun violence, previously condemning other violent incidents even before taking office, including a shooting at Brown University in December 2025. As a mayoral candidate, he labeled the violence in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights in August 2025 as “the scourge of gun violence.”

Yet, amid these challenges, the mayor reported positive trends in crime reduction for the first half of 2026. On July 2, he asserted, “Over the past six months, New York City has experienced the safest start to any year on record.” According to Mamdani, “The data reflects what New Yorkers are feeling on our subways, on our streets and across the five boroughs: our whole-of-government approach to public safety is working.”