Shooting at Club 11
A security guard was shot in the leg at 3:30 a.m. near the side entrance of Club 11, the strip club at 525 Craven St. Herb Magnan, 27, told police he was responding to a commotion on that side of the building, when he was shot. Derek Lewis, 41, was also shot, grazed by a bullet on his cheek and shoulder. Michael Smith, 27, was arrested for the shootings.
Who shot me?
On August 29th, Victorino Degente-Ramos, 29, of 871 Longwood Ave., was brought to Lincoln Hospital by responders after he was discovered lying in front of 758 Kelly St. intoxicated and with a bloody mouth. He was later found to have also suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
Prospect Ave shooting
On September 10th, 22-year-old Shanil Paige was shot in front of 974 Prospect Ave. at 164th St.. The victim was standing in front of the building when an unknown male came up and shot her, she told police.
Stabbing on Coster
On September 25th around 8:30 p.m. a man was stabbed in the left side at 632 Coster St. and taken to Lincoln Hospital. Troy Davis, 24, said he was breaking up a fight between his sister and someone else, when the other party stabbed him.
Banana Kelly stabbing
17-year-old Penalo Andry was stabbed in the right side of his torso in front of the schools complex at 965 Longwood Ave on a September afternoon. Andry said he had gone to his alma mater, Holcombe Rucker High School to get paperwork, when he was assaulted by three men, all of whom have been arrested. Police identified Raymond Lopez, 17, Eduar Tavares, 18, and Juan Garcia, 20, as the assailants. No motive has been established in the stabbing.
Impact officer’s impact
Anthony Taylor, 38, was arrested by specially assigned Impact officers working for the 41st precinct on August 3rd for robbing a victim at gunpoint at Hoe Ave. and Bruckner Boulevard. Around midnight, the victim said he was walking along when Taylor approached him with his gun drawn and told him to “put down your cellphone and don’t look back.” After the victim did as he was told, he left the scene, but soon crossed paths with one of the rookie officers from the Impact squad assigned to help regular officers and increase street presence for law enforcement. The rookie canvassed the area, then soon after spotted the thief based on descriptions, and collared him.
Youth crime
The 41st precinct’s “schools unit” that specializes in dealing with juvenile offenders took a 14-year-old into custody for assaulting a fellow 14-year-old shortly after 3 p.m. on September 14th. The young assailant teamed with two other youths in jumping their school-age victim in front of 1040 Southern Boulevard, striking him in the head and stealing his cellphone. Then, on Sept. 23rd, officers from the unit responded to another call regarding the same child, this time for snatching a chain from a young girl at 7:45 in the morning at 977 Fox St.
A recent criminal operation in the neighborhood reminds the commanding officer of the 41st precinct, Philip Rivera, of Charles Dickens, he told Community Board 2 in September. A group of adults were recruiting teens and pre-teens to do their dirty work, snatching chains and stealing, he said, adding that there have been “some arrests. It reminds me of Oliver Twist,” Rivera said.
Robberies rise
“We had a really rough summer,” Rivera told the board, adding that robberies are “something we’ve been struggling with,” and reiterating that people should think twice before walking around with jewels around their necks and rings on every finger.
There were 32 robberies in Hunts Point and Longwood between mid-August and mid-September this year, as compared with 20 during the same period last year, an alarming 60% spike.
“In a perfect world you should be able to walk down the street looking like Mr. T,” Rivera said, but reminded the board members that “they’re knocking people down for their stuff.”
However, thieves are attracted only to quick hits on profitable items like jewelry and fancy high-end cellphones, he said, adding, “nobody’s going to snatch your book.”
Car thefts are another noteworthy trouble spot, up almost 19% this year, from 53 this time in 2010 to 63 already so far this year.