The NYPD says the Bronx saw its lowest April crime levels on record this year, but many borough residents say they still do not feel safe in their neighborhoods.
According to newly released NYPD data, the Bronx recorded four murders in April — the lowest number ever reported for the month in the borough. Murders dropped nearly 41% citywide during the first four months of the year, with 76 killings reported across the five boroughs. Police say that is 10 fewer than the previous record low set in 2018.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch credited the decline to the department’s “precision-policing strategy,” which she said focuses on removing illegal guns from the streets, deploying officers to high-crime areas and dismantling violent gangs.
The NYPD also reported that overall shootings in the Bronx fell nearly 60% last month. Still, when the night falls, it's goosebumps for some neighbors.
Despite the numbers, some Bronx residents told News 12 they still feel uneasy walking outside, especially at night.
“I don’t feel safe anywhere,” said Melody Guzman of Castle Hill.
Neighbors pointed to recent acts of violence that continue to shape public perception, including a fatal shooting in Williamsbridge on April 2 that was captured on surveillance video. Police say a gunman shot and killed a 22-year-old man following an argument inside a deli.
Within the hour, another fatal shooting happened across the borough, leaving another young man dead.
Police say the declining crime numbers are a sign of progress heading into the summer months, though some Bronxites say it may take time before they feel safer on borough streets again.