First fatal shooting near Times Square ‘gun-free zone’ just one of many in New York City last week

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

Twenty-two-year old Idrissa

Siby was fatally shot between W. 44th Street and 8th Avenue last Thursday, Feb. 9, marking the first gun-related homicide near Times Square since the tourist destination was designated as a “gun-free zone” last October. Police were still searching for the Bronx resident’s killer as of Feb. 15.

But deadly New York City gun violence expanded far beyond the bright lights of Midtown Manhattan over the past week:

A man was fatally shot in Canarsie last Monday. He was reportedly a 20-year-old Brooklynite, although the NYPD has yet to confirm his identity.

31-year-old Marquis Lane was fatally shot in Morrisania this past Tuesday, Feb. 7.

49-year-old Jason Andrades was fatally shot last Thursday morning in the NYCHA Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn, according to the NYPD.

Last Friday, Feb. 10, mother

Michelle Smith reportedly lost her two sons—Jeremiah, 24 and Devren, 37—in a deadly shooting in the Bronx neighborhood of East Tremont. Two other men were shot but are in stable condition, according to the NYPD.

This past Saturday, 42-year-old Alfred Johnson was fatally shot in Central Harlem off 125th Street.

Also last Saturday, police found a 27-year-old man was found in Parkchester dead with a gunshot wound.

“Since day one, public safety has been our top priority, which is why the NYPD is working every day to remove guns from our streets, protect our communities, and create a safe, prosperous, and just city for all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Eric Adams in an email statement. “Unfortunately, the kinds of brazen shootings we witnessed this weekend are still all too common in our city and reducing crime in the city won’t happen overnight, but thanks to the NYPD’s efforts, both homicides and shootings continue to trend downward this year as

Student from City College of New York accepted to Public Policy and International Affairs Program

Gilles Seulio, a political science major at the City College of New York, has been accepted to attend the Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the University of Washington for the summer of 2023.

PPIA is known for being a “not-for-profit” organization and an extremely competitive program to be accepted by. It advocates for increasing diversity in its graduate studies programs in public policy and international affairs they did last year, and we continue to remove illegal guns from the street every day.

Seulio is currently a junior in CCNY’s Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. Born in Cameroon, his interest in public service began in 2008 while attending high school in Douala. Growing up, he was surrounded by violence through various protests that were caused by a transit workers’ strike. Due to the constant social issues around him, he knew that he wanted to make a change. “I wanted to understand why it happened and what could have been done to prevent it,” Seulio said.

This highly competitive fellowship is awarded to juniors majoring in political science. The program helps students in their future endeavors by preparing them to obtain a master’s or joint degree in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a similar field.

Students may study on one of the six campuses of participating universities: Carnegie Mellon University, Princeton University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Washington, and the University of California, Berkeley.

During the summer, Seulio will attend the University of Washington Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance to gain a variety of skills through top-tier educational experiences and career development.

Seulio received full tuition for his PPIA Junior Summer Institute, along with grants for travel expenses, a stipend, school housing, meals, and academic materials.

In 2022, Seulio also received the Colin Powell Fellowship in Leadership and Public Service, as well as a New York Leaders Fellowship from the Moynihan Center.

“Until every New Yorker is safe, there will always still be work left to do, but we are taking some of the biggest actions in years to protect New Yorkers. We will never stop fighting to protect the residents of this city and to dam the many rivers that feed the sea of gun violence.”

Adams is referencing the most recent citywide crime statistics, which show—year-to-date—a 20.9% decrease in shooting incidents over last year. However, a decrease in gun violence in the Bronx looks very different from an increase in Midtown Manhattan.

The NYPD’s 48th Precinct, where the Smith brothers were killed, is down 57.1% in shootings compared to 2022—but there were already seven shootings by Feb. 12 last year, so three incidents, yearto-date, is a significant decrease, even if those numbers probably mean nothing to a grieving mother like Michelle Smith.

These opportunities give students the preparations they may need for careers in public service.

HBCU and Greek Sunday event

On February 26, the Abyssinian Baptist Church will celebrate its inaugural HBCU and Greek Sunday event. The 10 a.m. worship service will be dedicated to sharing the importance of historically Black institutions and the Divine 9 Greek-letter organizations in uniting and empowering Black culture.

The event will also honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts (Morehouse College ’72 and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity member).

HBCU alumni, undergraduate members, and/or organization representatives are invited to take part in this special event to celebrate history, culture, and achievements. Guests are welcome to showcase their organizational colors or paraphernalia that represent their alma maters/organizations.

In memory of Butts, the steering committee will raise funds to provide educational aid to a selection of students in the Harlem community who hope to receive a higher education Participants are invited to a attend meet-and-greet reception after the service.

To register, RSVP by Monday, February 20, to Naomi Graham at ngraham@abyssinian.org. For further information or questions, contact Dr. Raschaad Hoggard at 212-862-7474, ext. 212 or 255.