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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 22 december 2017

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Once US murder capital, NYC close to record low in homicides

By COLLEEN LONG this city,” Police Commis-
Associated Press sioner James O’Neill said
NEW YORK (AP) — Even af- in an interview with The As-
ter two terror attacks and sociated Press. “These are
a driver’s deadly rampage real numbers. I don’t think
through Times Square, New that’s something that can
York City is on track to be ignored.”
smash its modern-era low New York’s death toll was
for homicides in a year. worsened this year by a
Through Dec. 17, the city Halloween attack by a
of 8.5 million people, once man from Uzbekistan who
America’s murder capital, drove a rented truck down
had recorded 278 killings. a waterfront bicycle bath,
That puts it on pace to end killing eight people.
this year with killings down Months earlier, a driver, said
14 percent from last year, by police to have smoked
and well below the 333 in marijuana laced with PCP,
2014, which was the year mowed down pedestrians
with the fewest homicides in Times Square, striking 21
since the city began keep- people and killing one. No
ing accurate crime statis- one died this month when
tics in 1963. a would-be suicide bomb-
Those numbers mean a er detonated an explosive
person’s odds of getting In this Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 photo, police officers Jimmy Priore, left, and Manny Sharma talk with in the subway system.
a driver who was pulled over for an invalid registration in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Even
killed by homicide in tightly after two terrorist attacks and a motorist’s deadly rampage through Times Square, New York City is Out in the 75th Precinct,
packed, diverse New York on track to smash its modern-era low for homicides. In 2017, crime dropped substantially in areas residents are still more con-
City this year were about like Brooklyn’s 75th Police Precinct, once among the nation’s most chronically violent places. cerned about gangs and
the same as they were last (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) drug dealing than terrorism.
year in Wyoming, Montana ing the streets at night, ferent world now.” ago, when he said murders “Crime is still here for us. I
and South Dakota. they’re out talking to their There were 126 killings in were up because the city’s still see it and I still feel it,”
Crime has been dropping neighbors, they’re not rush- the precinct in 1993. Last liberal mayor was coddling said Jessica Franco, 31,
for many years in New York, ing their kids home, you year, there were 23. This immigrants living here ille- who started the Civic As-
but 2017 saw substantial know, with their heads year, through Dec. 17, gally and abandoning a sociation of Cypress Hills.
drops even in places like down,” said Rashaud Car- there have been 11. police tactic that involved “But I think neighbors have
Brooklyn’s 75th Police Pre- michael, 36, a construction The statistics stand in sharp stopping and frisking huge to also understand their
cinct, once among the na- worker and father of three contrast to the picture of numbers of predominantly power to help change this
tion’s most violent places. who lives in the area. “I’ve New York City painted by innocent black and His- — and their responsibility to
“You can feel the change. lived here all my life. And President Donald Trump on panic men. engage with police to help
More people are out walk- man, I can tell you, it’s a dif- the campaign trail a year “Look what’s been done in make it better.”q

Police: Hospital gunman fired many shots, killed himself

By DAN SEWELL of Cincinnati Medical Cen- Isaac gave this account: emergency room lobby to “and the action of the oth-
Associated Press ter complex was captured Shortly after entering the retrieve them, walking at a er responding officers was
CINCINNATI (AP) — A man on surveillance video and building Wednesday, Currie steady pace and still hold- nothing less than heroic,
carrying two handguns 911 recordings. struggled with the security ing a gun in each hand. along with the actions of
who tried to storm into an “We have a shooter here. guard and fired shots. The A Cincinnati police officer the security officer.”
Ohio hospital’s psychiatric ... I’m hiding under a desk. guard then ran out of the on security duty at a near- He also praised the UC
emergency room shot and Hurry!” a psychiatric servic- building. Currie followed by medical building rushed Health staff, which locked
wounded a security officer, es employee reported dur- him. Video shows the man into the emergency psychi- down the emergency room
fired at a police officer and ing a 911 call. identified as Currie striding atric services wing, drawing before Currie returned.
then fatally shot himself, Isaac said police had not outside before apparently a gunshot from Currie. The “He was not able to pen-
police said Thursday. yet determined Currie’s spotting the security officer shot missed. After ducking etrate,” Isaac said.
Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot motive but said he had a and then running after him, and retreating, the officer, He said he didn’t have
Isaac identified the gun- criminal record, including firing more shots. The offi- Bob Nelson, regrouped details on Currie’s mental
man in the Wednesday af- drug charges, resisting ar- cer received two gunshot with other officers outside health condition. He said
ternoon shooting as Isaiah rest, assault on a correc- wounds to the torso. and moved in on Currie. Currie was armed with
Currie, 20, of Cincinnati. tions officer and an earlier Currie returned inside the Currie killed himself with a 9mm and .22-caliber hand-
Some of the drama that assault on a UC Health se- hospital. He had left his car single gunshot. guns, at least one of them
unfolded at the University curity officer. keys and he returned to the Isaac said Nelson’s actions stolen.q