New York, US: A wave of violence struck the city late Saturday night as police confirmed that the three victims of a brazen Midtown shooting were specifically targeted, intensifying debate over Mayor Eric Adams’ upcoming gang intervention summit. Amid mounting public outrage, GOP mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa lambasted Adams’ plan as “tone-deaf” and “out of touch” with New Yorkers’ urgent demand for safety.
Calculated Attack in the Heart of Midtown
Shortly before 11:00 PM, undercover officers on routine patrol heard rapid gunfire erupt near the corner of West 45th Street and Eighth Avenue. Authorities found two men and one woman lying in the street, each suffering multiple gunshot wounds. The victims, all in their late 20s, were rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where one succumbed to injuries; the other two remain in critical condition.
Law enforcement sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said ballistic evidence and surveillance footage indicate the suspects followed the victims from a nearby gathering spot, then opened fire at close range. “This was no random act,” one source stated. “They were selected, followed, and executed with chilling precision.”
Political Flashpoint: Mayor’s Gang Summit Under Fire
The reasoning behind Monday’s announcement of a citywide anti-gang summit has come under intense scrutiny. Mayor Adams unveiled the initiative earlier this month, convening community leaders, faith groups, and law enforcement to focus on prevention, intervention programs, and targeted prosecutions.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and Adams’ Republican rival in next year’s election, pounced on the news of the Midtown shooting. “While New Yorkers bleed, the mayor busies himself with kumbaya sessions,” Sliwa declared at a press event outside City Hall. “We don’t need talk shops—we need boots on the ground, night after night until this violence stops.”
Grassroots Leaders and Lawmakers Demand Action
Community activists echoed calls for immediate, tangible steps. Pastor Luis Hernandez of Harlem’s Hope Church urged expansion of ceasefire patrols in violence-prone corridors. “Summits won’t save lives. Enough talking—put additional officers where bullets fly at night,” he urged at a neighborhood vigil…