CRIME DOWN ACROSS NEW YORK CITY IN 2024, WITH 3,662 FEWER CRIMES

 

Homicides and shootings reduced for the third consecutive year

15.5% December index crime decrease is largest one-month decrease since February 2021

2024 marked the second straight year of crime declines in the nation’s largest subway system

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch today announced that 2024 concluded with a nearly 3% reduction in overall index crime, which equates to 3,662 fewer incidents and thousands of fewer victims of violence and disorder across the five boroughs. The index crime categories of murder, robbery, burglary, grand larceny, and grand larceny—auto each saw sizable reductions across New York City in 2024, led, in part, by hefty drops during the month of December in five of the seven major crime categories. Overall index crime in December, compared to the same month in 2023, decreased by 15.5%, the largest one-month decrease since February 2021.

The NYPD’s laser-like focus on criminals who use illegal guns drove significant declines for the third straight year in both the number of shooting incidents—which were down 7.3%, or 71 incidents—and the number of shooting victims—which were down 4.2%, or 48 victims.

Additionally, 2024 was the second consecutive year of index crime decline within the nation’s largest subway system, with a 5.4% reduction. The decrease in subway index crime represents an end-of-year decline that more than doubled the reduction realized 12 months ago. Crime in New York City public housing complexes also precipitously dropped, by 4.5%, in 2024, eradicating the prior year’s modest increase.

“The dedicated efforts of the women and men of the NYPD are making a significant and lasting impact in neighborhoods across our great city,” said Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Through precision policing, particularly as it relates to gun violence, lives are being saved every day in New York. Our officers are leveraging state-of-the-art technology, effectively building and closing high-quality cases, and strengthening crucial relationships that contribute to our success. While there were thousands fewer victims of major crimes—including shootings, murders, robberies, and other violent acts—in 2024, there is still much more work to be done to keep New Yorkers safe, to make them feel safe, and to improve their overall quality of life in the year ahead. And there is one glaring issue in this battle: Recidivism. We need common sense changes to alleviate the persistent problem of recidivism. That is what the people we serve rightfully expect and deserve.”

A data-driven organization, the NYPD again applied precision policing in 2024, positioning thousands of uniformed police officers on foot patrols in segments of the city experiencing disproportionately high levels of crime. The powerful deterrent to crime achieved shooting reductions in four of New York City’s five geographical boroughs. In December, across the city, there were 11 fewer shooting incidents (61 vs. 72, a 15.3% reduction) compared to the previous December, equating to 12 fewer shooting victims (78 vs. 90, a 13.3% decrease). For the complete year, there were 71 fewer shooting incidents (903 vs. 974, a 7.3% reduction) and 48 fewer shooting victims (1,102 vs. 1,150, a 4.2% decrease). Concurrently, NYPD officers arrested 4,061 people for illegal possession of a gun in 2024, and took more than 6,150 illegal firearms off the streets.

Arrests for all major index crimes citywide increased by 7.2% (57,003 vs. 53,197) for all of 2024.

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change.*

Index Crime Statistics: December 2024

	Dec. 2024	Dec. 2023	+/-	% Change
Murder	24	25	-1	-4.0%
Rape	142	136	6	4.4%
Robbery	1156	1585	-429	-27.1%
Felony Assault	2230	2216	14	.6%
Burglary	1076	1112	-36	-3.2%
Grand Larceny	3548	4426	-878	-19.8%
Grand Larceny Auto	912	1259	-347	-27.6%
TOTAL	9088	10759	-1671	-15.5%

Index Crime Statistics: EOY 2024

	Dec. 2024	Dec. 2023	+/-	% Change
Murder	337	391	-14	-3.6%
Rape	1748	1470	278	18.9%
Robbery	16556	16940	-384	-2.3%
Felony Assault	29417	28003	1414	.6%
Burglary	13029	13816	-787	-5.7%
Grand Larceny	48423	50968	-2545	-5.0%
Grand Larceny Auto	14194	15818	-1624	-10.3%
TOTAL	123744	127406	-3662	-2.9%

Additional Statistics: December 2024

	Dec. 2024	Dec. 2023	+/-	% Change
Transit	185	200	-15	-7.5%
Housing	456	488	-32	-6.6%
Shooting Incidents	61	72	-11	-15.3

Additional Statistics: EOY 2024

	2024	2023	+/-	% Change
Transit	2211	2337	-126	-5.4%
Housing	5921	6201	-280	-4.5%
Shooting Incidents	903	974	-71	-7.3%

Hate Crimes Statistics: Oct. 2024

(Representing Dec. 1 – Dec. 31 for calendar years 2024 and 2023)

Motivation	2024	2023	Diff	% Change
Asian	2	12	-10	-83%
Black	3	8	-5	-63%
Ethnic	1	5	-4	-80%
Gender	1	1	0	0%
Hispanic	0	10	-10	100%
Jewish	22	48	-26	-54%
Muslim	1	6	-5	-83%
Religion	2	3	-1	-33%
Sexual Orientation	11	20	-9	-45%
White	0	4	-4	100%
Grand Total	43	117	-74	-63%

Hate Crimes Statistics: EOY 2024

(Representing Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 for calendar years 2024 and 2023)

Motivation	2024	2023	Diff	% Change
Asian	35	52	-17	-33%
Black	38	54	-16	-30%
Ethnic	33	30	3	10%
Gender	26	20	6	10%
Hispanic	11	20	-9	45%
Jewish	345	323	22	7%
Muslim	43	26	22	65%
Religion	21	15	6	40%
Sexual Orientation	78	106	-28	-26%
White	11	15	-14	-56%
Grand Total	641	671	-30	-4%

Two Indian Chemical Companies and a Senior Executive Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals

 

Two indictments were unsealed today and Saturday charging India-based companies Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. (Athos Chemicals) and Bhavesh Lathiya, a founder and senior executive of Raxuter Chemicals, with criminal conspiracies to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States. Lathiya was arrested on Jan. 4, in New York City and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo for the Eastern District of New York. Lathiya was ordered detained pending trial.

“The Justice Department is targeting every link in fentanyl trafficking supply chains that span countries and continents and too often end in tragedy in the United States,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege these companies, and a company founder and senior executive who is now in custody, conspired to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals from India to the United States and Mexico. We made a promise that the Justice Department would never forget the victims of the fentanyl epidemic, and that we would never stop working to hold accountable those who bear responsibility for it — that is what we have done, and that is what we will continue to do.”

“Much of our nation’s illicit fentanyl crisis can be traced to bad actors overseas who knowingly and illegally traffic precursor chemicals to North America, where cartels refine them into deadly narcotics and wreak immeasurable heartbreak and destruction on so many American communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The Department of Homeland Security, alongside our federal partners, will continue to take the fight against fentanyl directly to alleged foreign precursor chemical exporters like the companies and the individual indicted today — because the best way to stop illicit fentanyl from killing Americans and devastating communities is by preventing it from being manufactured in the first place.”

“Our efforts to disrupt the global fentanyl supply chain are being fought on many fronts, and as alleged in these indictments, by charging two chemical companies based in India and a company executive with knowingly distributing the chemical building blocks of fentanyl,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “My office will vigorously prosecute those pushers of poison, here and abroad, who are responsible for fueling our nation’s opioid epidemic without any regard for the extreme harm they are causing.”

Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is the deadliest drug threat currently facing the United States. It is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is designated as a Schedule II controlled substance while various precursors that can be used to produce fentanyl are included on the controlled substance schedules List I and List II.

Raxuter Chemicals and Lathiya are charged with conspiracy to distribute and import a listed chemical, distribution and importation of a listed chemical knowing it would be used to manufacture fentanyl, smuggling, and other related offenses. Athos Chemicals is charged with similar offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and import a listed chemical and distribution and importation of a listed chemical.

As alleged in the indictments and court filings, the defendants supplied precursor chemicals to the United States and Mexico, among other places, knowing they would be used to manufacture fentanyl. They also sent their chemical products to the United States and Mexico using international mail and package carriers. The chemicals distributed by the defendants included all the materials necessary to manufacture fentanyl via the most common methods or pathways. To prevent detection and interception of chemical products at the borders, the defendants employed deceptive and fraudulent practices, such as mislabeling packages, falsifying customs forms, and making false declarations at border crossings.

For example, on or about June 29, 2024, a package shipped by Raxuter Chemicals was delivered to an address in the Eastern District of New York. The package had a false manifest that listed its contents as Vitamin C. In truth, the contents were a List I chemical, 1-boc-4-piperidone, an unlawfully imported fentanyl precursor.

On or about Oct. 2, 2024, and Oct 15, 2024, Lathiya appeared on a video call to discuss sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals with an Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) undercover officer. After being told by the undercover officer that his “clients in Mexico were very happy with the quality of what you sent me” and with “the yield they got of the final product,” Lathiya agreed to sell 20 kilograms 1-boc-4-piperidone, which is a List I chemical used in fentanyl synthesis. Lathiya also proposed mislabeling the chemical as an antacid. The undercover officer replied and asked if it would be easier to ship the product to Mexico, stating “This is a very controversial product … Because like you said it’s banned and in Mexico I think it could be easier but there’s so much pressure on them because of fentanyl.” On or about Nov. 23, 2024, Raxuter Chemicals and Lathiya shipped approximately 20 kilograms of 1-boc-4-piperidone to the Eastern District of New York. The package was mislabeled as an antacid.

In addition, on or about Feb. 20, 2024, Athos Chemicals agreed to sell 100 kilograms of 1-boc-4-piperidone to a known drug trafficker in Mexico who was making fentanyl in association with a drug trafficking organization.

Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including but not limited to the Sinaloa Cartel, have increasingly availed themselves of the fentanyl precursors developed and distributed by companies like the defendants. The chemicals provided by the defendant companies have enabled such cartels and other drug trafficking organizations to produce fentanyl in clandestine laboratories in Mexico on a massive scale for subsequent distribution in the United States and elsewhere.

If convicted, Lathiya faces a maximum penalty of 53 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI New York investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office provided assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BRAC - January 2025 Newsletter

BRONX RIVER ART CENTER

Celebrating 37 Years of Bringing Arts & Cultural Programs to the Bronx

JANUARY 2025 at BRAC

Education 

Register for

Winter Classes & Workshops

Winter Session starts January 6th!

Registration is still open for BRAC's Winter 2025 Afterschool and Saturday Classes! Our 2-hour classes for children, teens, and adults meet once a week in our state-of-the-art studio art and ceramics spaces, as well as our digital media lab, and are taught by professional teaching artists with fine arts degrees and multiple years of teaching experience.

Returning Classes:

Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics/Pottery, Cartooning, Digital Art and Animation, and Photography

New Classes:

Intro to Stained Glass for Adults

2D, 3D, and More! for Youth and Families

Digital Videography for Teens and Adults

New for the Semester:

• We're now offering five week classes in addition to our usual ten week classes. This covers not only new classes such as Intro to Stained Glass, but also new sections of returning classes such as ceramics and photography.
• Our Friday workshops have been restructured: - $20 Adult Sip Workshops are drawing and painting open studios held under the guidance of one of our studio artists. These workshops will meet on January 10, February 14, and March 14 from 6-9pm. - Free Family Fridays offer activities ranging from learning graffiti art to creating origami for children and families. These workshops will meet on January 24, February 28, and March 21.

Please visit our Education Page for class descriptions, schedule, and pricing information. Email education@bronxriverart.org with any additional questions.

Register for Weekly Art Classes

Register for Monthly Friday Workshops

Gallery

Between Inspiration and Collecting:

The Artist's Cabinet

On View from January 10 to February 15

Opening Reception: January 10 from 4-7pm

In the grand narratives of art collecting, we often encounter stories of wealthy patrons and prestigious institutions. Yet there exists another, more intimate history of collecting—one that unfolds in artists’ studios, homes, and personal spaces. This exhibition turns our attention to artists not only as creators but as collectors, revealing how their gathering of objects shapes their creative vision and practice.

Curated by Alena Alekseeva, The Artist's Cabinet will see visitors transported beyond the conventional white cube gallery space into something more akin to an artist’s private domain. Each installation functions as a personal cabinet of curiosities, where artworks coexist with collected objects in arrangements that follow the artists’ own internal logic.

Visit Exhibition Page

RSVP for Opening Reception

Artist Studios

Last Call for Studio Artists!

Application Deadline — January 15th

Professional artist studios in BRAC's recently renovated building are now available for up to two year residencies, on a year to year basis, for artists working in various visual art disciplines including: painting, photography, sculpture, video, installation and new media. Selected artists will have the opportunity to produce new work and make use of BRAC’s extensive resources in support of their creative practices.

As part of BRAC’s Artist Studio Program, residents have the opportunity to be considered for inclusion in BRAC's annual exhibitions schedule, connect with local and international curators, art critics, and other artists from BRAC’s creative network. Residents are required to contribute six hours a month in community service to support BRAC's programs and participate in BRAC's annual Open Studio Event.

Please visit our Studios page for more information about the application process and how to apply.

Visit Studios Page

And More...

Pledge Your Support!

Vote for BRAC to receive the Flourishing in Community Grant

We have some exciting news! BRAC has been nominated for a Flourishing in Community Grant from Fordham University — and we need your vote to get it. 

The FIC grant would allow us to expand our focus on environmental stewardship by activating the park / rain garden behind BRAC with cleanups and artistic projects, training current teaching artists to better integrate environmental justice into our curriculum, and using art and art-based messaging to promote environmental awareness for NYC’s only freshwater river, the Bronx River.

BRAC was born out of the movement to restore the Bronx River, and we hope to continue that work to be a leader in art and environmental education for our community. Will you take a moment today to sign up and vote for BRAC?

Vote for BRAC in just 4 steps:

1. Visit bit.ly/FIC-NY 
2. Register with FIC (for entity or business name, list your employer or feel free to write Bronx River Art Center).
3. In the Search List toolbar, enter 588. 
4. Click into our profile page (you’ll see a picture of BRAC when you do), and select Vote at the top of the screen. 

Vote for BRAC on the FIC Grant website

A 2024 BRAC Recap!

Thank you for all your support throughout 2024!

Last year, we...

• Launched MSCreate, our free after-school arts program to help middle schoolers prepare for the transition to high school!
• Held our 21st Annual Bronx River Sounds Performing Arts Festival celebrated an array of Latin, African-American, and multicultural music with Rhythms of the Diaspora.
• Hosted our first ever Sustainable Fashion Show, featuring designs by our teen students.
• Welcomed over 100 artists into our Main Gallery — from The Bronx and beyond — across 6 different exhibitions.

This is just a glimpse of the incredible year we had — and none of it could have happened without you, our community of artists, teachers, students, and supporters. Thank you for helping us create a safe, affordable place for artists and students across The Bronx and NYC!

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Hiring Opportunities!

Visit our Opportunities page