Office of Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda
District Office: 1973 Westchester Ave, Bx. NY ∙
Phone: 718-931-8620
Assemblyman Luis R. Sepúlveda today urged community members to report illegal guns and suspicious activity to the NYPD's Operation Gun Stop Program after a spate of shootings in the Bronx over the weekend. Rewards of $1,000 are available for anonymous tips phoned into 1-866-GUN-STOP (1-866-486-7867).
"The Bronx is bleeding, and it's our youngest citizens who are being affected the most," said Assemblyman Sepúlveda. "We must come together as a community to put a stop to this violence. If you know someone with a gun, call the NYPD's Operation Gun Stop hotline so that we can remove as many guns from the street as possible. Too many times I've had to console mothers who have lost their children to gun violence. It must come to an end."
On Sunday, Assemblyman Sepúlveda met with Yvonne Rodriguez, the mother of Ray Rosello, 20, who was shot and killed early Sunday morning in West Farms. Rodriguez has been an active member of the West Farms community and has worked with Assemblyman Sepúlveda on a number of projects. Her annual block party to encourage community involvement is scheduled for this Saturday, just a week after the death of her son. She now intends on holding that block party in his memory.
Sepúlveda also called for an increase in gun control to prevent the flood of guns into New York.
"When I was first elected as a member of the Assembly, one of the first bills I voted on was the SAFE Act. I'm proud of the strict gun laws we have in New York State, but we must work harder to prevent the importation of guns from states with lax gun laws.”
During the weekend of July 19th multiple shooting incidents occurred in the Bronx, including the fatal shooting of Rosello just blocks from where Sepúlveda lives, and at a barbecue where six people were shot.
Operation Gun Stop, privately funded by the New York City Police Foundation, began in 2001 and since then has led to over 5,500 arrests and the removal of 3,350 illegal weapons from New York City Streets.
Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda represents New York’s 87th Assembly District, which includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest, Unionport, and Stratton Park.
