A wild shootout on the streets of Queens sent bullets flying into a yeshiva and parked cars.
And in another example of senseless gun violence, an off-duty police officer was shot in a botched carjacking and a defendant pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
These incidents illustrate why we must continue to do everything possible to get illegal guns off our streets.
A man has been charged in the May 1 street shootout that could have killed a student. A youngster was inside a class when a bullet pierced through the window early that morning. The defendant allegedly argued moments earlier with another man, who pursued him as he exited a building near the school and the pair exchanged gunfire.
The defendant who shot at a police officer was sentenced this week to 19 years in prison.
Over the last three years, we have hosted numerous gun buy back events, with citizens turning in operable guns of all kinds with no questions asked.
We will continue working to make Queens the safest place possible to live and work with investigations leading to the arrests of gun runners, as well as focusing on those who manufacture homemade ghost guns -- weapons that cannot be tracked because they have no serial numbers.
My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe.
In Friendship,
Melinda Katz
Queens District Attorney