Park Slope Reacts to Gun Crime Spike on Labor Day Weekend

Between Saturday at 6:00 a.m. to Sunday at 6:00 a.m., a reported 24 people have been shot in New York, reports the Daily News. 

As of this morning the shootings had claimed one man, a 30 year old Flatbush resident, with several others sustaining injuries in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn.

The unheralded shooting spike is a shocking end to summer, especially for residents of neighborhoods conceived of as being relatively safe.

“I thought gun crime was getting better – but maybe that's just because I live in Park Slope,” said central Park Slope resident Suzanne Voel. “But these days we don't know what to think, with stabbings, some guy on the loose...it's getting a little scary this year.”

Park Slope has experienced its share of crime over the summer months – and it's fair to say that as the neighborhood organized parades, family gatherings and celebrations to end summer with a bang, this is not what anyone meant.

“School is starting, we have to worry about our kids and how to get them around. I don't want to have to worry about gun crime coming that close to us,” said a South Slope mother, who preferred not to be named.

Crown Heights residents reported gun shots heard at Park Place and Franklin Avenue around 9:15, which were confirmed by the 77th Precinct. Additional shots were heard on Franklin Avenue between President and Carroll streets. Crown Heights/Prospect Heights shootings have resulted in .

The surge of gun violence has prompted Mayor Bloomberg to appeal to Washington for more aggressive gun laws.

For many, this comes as an unpleasant reminder that the city has a lot of work to do to improve New York gun laws.

The situation was summed up by one woman, who commutes to Park Slope from Bay Ridge for work. “I know we live in New York, but I hope something changes. This is definitely not what I was expecting for our Labor Day weekend.”