The city of New York was shaken by a series of violent crimes in the year 2024, sparking outrage locally and nationwide. Despite an overall decline in felony crime on the streets and subways, specific categories such as felony assaults and murders saw an increase compared to the previous year. Here are some of the most shocking crime stories that unfolded throughout the year.
In February, a 15-year-old migrant from Venezuela allegedly shot a tourist and fired at a security guard in Times Square. Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, along with two other teens, attempted to shoplift from a store when a security guard intervened. Rivas-Figueroa then shot at the guard, accidentally hitting a Brazilian tourist in the leg before fleeing and firing at an NYPD officer.
Tragedy struck in March when NYPD officer Jonathan Diller was fatally shot during a car stop in Queens. Diller, a three-year veteran of the force and a married father, approached a suspicious vehicle and was shot by the occupants, leading to his tragic death. The suspects, Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones, were later arrested and held without bail.
In May, a maniac in Harlem allegedly punched a woman and then slashed an 11-year-old girl with a box cutter in a shocking daytime spree. Shaquan Cummings’s violent actions prompted a vigilante mob to try and take matters into their own hands before he was arrested and charged with multiple offenses.
In November, a 7-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting incident in Harlem. Suspects Daniel Idowu and True Womack were charged with attempted murder and assault after accidentally hitting the young girl while targeting others in a gang-related burst of violence.
A homeless man, Ramon Rivera, went on a stabbing spree in Manhattan in November, killing three people in broad daylight. Rivera targeted individuals who were alone and distracted in a series of horrific attacks across different neighborhoods in Manhattan.
In December, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Midtown hotel by Luigi Mangione, who was fueled by rage against the health care industry. Mangione was later arrested and charged with murder and other offenses following a nationwide manhunt.
The year ended with a heinous crime as a migrant man, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil from Guatemala, allegedly set a sleeping woman ablaze on a Brooklyn subway train, resulting in her death. The shocking murder of Debrina Kawam prompted increased patrols by the Guardian Angels vigilante squad in the city’s subway system.
These tragic and senseless acts of violence underscore the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and communities in addressing crime and ensuring public safety in New York City.
