A 19-year-old woman was hospitalized after being shot in the hip following an argument with a gunman on a Queens, New York bus. The incident occurred on Thursday night, March 14 triggering an ongoing investigation by NYC police.
According to police, the dispute began aboard a Q110 bus in Hollis, Queens, around 6:20 p.m. The argument escalated, and both people got off at the stop at Francis Lewis Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue. Shortly thereafter, the male suspect discharged a firearm, striking the young woman in the hip.
Emergency medical services responded to the scene, and the victim was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. She is reported to be in stable condition, expected to recover from her injuries.
The assailant remains at large, last seen heading southbound on Jamaica Avenue. The New York Police Department has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, though no arrests have been made thus far.
The shooting occurred amidst a backdrop of increasing concern over gun violence in New York City. Just hours earlier, another gun-related incident was reported in Brooklyn, where a subway rider managed to disarm and shoot an aggressive person during a confrontation on a crowded train.
The Queens shooting has drawn significant attention to the issue of public safety in the city’s transit system.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may lead to the apprehension of the gunman. The New York Police Department is conducting a thorough review of surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts to piece together the sequence of events that led to the shooting.
Following a recent rise in significant criminal events in the New York City subway system, Mayor Eric Adams has provided his thoughts on Governor Kathy Hochul’s approach to ensuring the transit system’s security.
The implementation of safety protocols shows no decrease even past the first week. A considerable number of police officers are being tasked with maintaining the safety of all corners of the NYC transit system — from its platforms to its carriages.
Hundreds more MTA police, along with state troopers and the National Guard, are conducting random inspections of passengers and their luggage, a measure decreed by Governor Hochul.
Mayor Adams commented positively on these efforts saying, “Addressing the issue constructively is the key, and kudos to her doing just that.”
In a press interview on Thursday, March 14, Mayor Adams appreciated the augmenting forces and acknowledged that, fundamentally, it is the NYPD’s responsibility.
He said, “That’s precisely why I have re-introduced 1,000 police officers back on the subway system, to instill a sense of security. I’m resolutely opposing those advocating to disband or reduce funding for our police department. I’m seeking more new recruits, I desire more officers present, because this is what New Yorkers are calling for.”
The deployment of these forces comes in response to heightened public anxieties due to a series of high-profile criminal incidents. Despite the city’s request for further funding for NYPD overtime, the governor took the route of military deployment.
It is still premature to ascertain the impact of these measures, but overall transit crime is showing a downward trend.
Asked if this security dynamic should be understood as the new norm, Mayor Adams said, “Certainly, and it’s this understanding that we really need to embrace. That’s what I have tasked the commissioner and Chief Kemper with. I’m making it clear to the team that we need to identify the new standard and adopt policing strategies that align with it.”
However, not everyone sees an increased police or military presence as the solution. During a virtual press conference, critics voiced their opposition, “The safety strategy proposed by the governor isn’t really about genuine concern for safety; it’s more about demonstrating leadership,” stated NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
David Moss of the Legal Defense Fund added, “This policy is likely to have a detrimental emotional and psychological effect on a lot of New Yorkers.”
