Yesterday afternoon, in the West End of New Rochelle, a young man shot and killed an acquaintance. The ages of the shooter and the victim — both 16 — make this incident especially horrific and, for young people and their families throughout our community, deeply upsetting. This morning, I issued the following statement:
My personal thoughts are with the families that have been broken by this tragedy, and with all in our community who have been shaken by such a senseless act of violence. New Rochelle will continue working with parents, educators, and service providers to offer positive support to at-risk youngsters, while partnering with our local court and law enforcement to prevent youth violence. More broadly, this incident highlights yet again the destructive impact of our nation’s lax gun regulations, which flood firearms into the wrong hands and can transform any dispute into a heartbreaking loss.