Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
NYC Sees Alarming Rise in Juvenile Gun Violence
The number of juveniles shot in New York City has seen a concerning rise, increasing by 15% this year compared to last and a staggering 114% since pre-pandemic 2018, according to NYPD data. This surge in juvenile gun violence highlights an urgent need to address the underlying causes and implement effective solutions.
Increase in Juvenile Shooting Victims
While the number of teen shooters has slightly decreased by 5% compared to last year, it has significantly climbed by 70% since 2018.
- In 2018, there were 14 juvenile shooting victims.
- As of this point in 2025, the number has risen to 30.
- The number of juvenile shooters has increased from 10 in 2018 to 17 in 2025.
A Community Mourns: The Death of Juan Jose Pena
Among the teen victims this year was Juan Jose Pena, an 18-year-old with aspirations of joining the Navy. He was fatally shot on Feb. 2 on Park Avenue near East 176th Street in the Bronx.
Following his tragic death, Pena’s mother moved her three remaining children to the Dominican Republic. According to his aunt, Shery Olivo, she no longer feels safe in New York City.
“She does not want to come back,” Olivo stated. “She still has three children to take care of. She does not think they are safe here.”
Arrest in Pena Case, But Concerns Remain
A 17-year-old was apprehended and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Pena’s death. Authorities are actively searching for two additional suspects.
Pena, with no prior criminal record, had texted his mother just moments before the shooting, informing her that he was on his way home.
“My nephew died 10 months ago and he did nothing wrong,” Olivo lamented. “The person who killed my nephew is still out there in the streets, maybe committing another crime and getting away with it while my sister is crying every single day. I don’t think they are doing enough.”
Growing Fears and Calls for Action
Olivo expressed her deep concern about the increasing incidence of teens being shot and carrying firearms in the city.
“When is this going to end?” she questioned. “What are the elected officials doing? Don’t they care about what’s going on in the city? This is bad…it’s getting worse. We don’t have law and order anymore.”
Echoes of Past Tragedies: The Angellyh Yambo Case
The troubling statistics resonate with Yanely Henriquez, whose 16-year-old daughter, Angellyh Yambo, an honor student, was fatally shot in 2022 by 17-year-old Jeremiah Ryan in the Bronx.
“It’s unfortunate because it is going to continue to happen every day,” Henriquez said. “The elected officials should be doing more. This is alarming. It means more kids are going to die just like my daughter.”
Henriquez would like to relocate her family, but feels obligated to remain near her daughter’s resting place.
“I wish I could take my kids and go somewhere else but due to my daughter being buried here, I’m stuck here,” she explained. “I don’t want to stay in New York. My daughter and I were going to move to Florida but we are stuck here, she is buried here.”
Erosion of Respect for Law
Henriquez believes that there has been a decline in respect for the law among young people today.
“I worry when my children go outside,” she said. “I’m always calling…it’s a constant battle. That is something I have to live with for the rest of my life.”
Debate Over “Raise the Age” Legislation
Kevin O’Connor, a retired NYPD Assistant Commissioner of Youth Strategies, suggests that the “Raise the Age” legislation, which prevents suspects under 18 from being charged as adults in most cases, contributes to the rise in youth crime.
Impact on Juvenile Crime Rates
“Youth crime in NYC is only down 4% compared to last year,” while overall crime is down 18%, O’Connor noted. “It’s basically flat. It’s all because of ‘Raise the Age.’ Nobody’s being prosecuted in the juvenile world.”
The “Raise the Age” law dictates that minors caught possessing firearms appear in Family Court. Previously, 16- and 17-year-olds were processed in criminal court, often leading to incarceration on Rikers Island.
Concerns About Recidivism
O’Connor argues that a key problem is that judges are not informed of a teen’s prior offenses, leading to increased recidivism.
“The judges can’t see prior history when a kid is brought before them,” O’Connor said.
“You need to empower the judge to make a full determination on the kid in front of them, which they cannot do right now,” he concluded. “Then, they can actually save this kid from becoming a career criminal.”