Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Violence Among Girls On The Rise Even As Youth Murders Fall
By
Lauren Evans
Published Nov 25, 2013
Modified Nov 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Lauren Evans/Gothamist
By
Lauren Evans
Published Nov 25, 2013
Modified Nov 26, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Operation Crew Cut, a push by the NYPD to curb violence among the city's youth, has lowered the homicide rate among 13 to 21-year-olds by more than half, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced at press conference today. But while Crew Cut is generally geared toward protecting "young minority men," it seems that violence among young women and girls is increasing—though police aren't sure why.
Crew Cut, which involves a combination of social media sleuthing and increased foot patrols, has so far resulted in 25 investigations and the indictment of 400 "crew members"—loose affiliations that are usually oriented by neighborhood or housing complex.
NYPD data shows that 43 people in the 13 to 21 age range have been killed this year, compared to 87 over the same period last year. Of the 20 people indicted for those murders, seven have been female, an unprecedented figure: "We haven’t seen that large a number previously," Kelly said.
One such instance involved a 13-year-old girl getting stabbed with an ice pick in the Marcus Garvey houses in Brownsville, after she refused to cooperate with three other girls who were members of a crew called Addicted to Cash, or ATC. Police say the girls wanted the victim to locate a rival in another development.
In another case, a .22 caliber revolver was found in the purse of 14-year-old "Pretty Diana," also a member of ATC. She was caught along with two 18-year-old sisters, who have previously been charged with murder. "Detectives have found that girl on girl crime by crew members is vicious and growing more dangerous," Kelly said. The ATC crew even has its own "girls only" component, called 180 ATC.
Officers noted that the spike in female involvement has been a trend for at least two years, though the number of female shooting victims is down 22 percent from last year—consistent with figures for both genders across the board. Still, they say they plan to pay particularly close attention to the uptick in violence involving female victims and suspects.
The city's 301st murder this year also occurred over the weekend. Commissioner Kelly was eager to offer some context: There are 36 more days before the start of the new year, he said, and the city currently has 8.4 million inhabitants. In 1990, the city had a population of 7.3 million, and saw 2,245 murders. But why? Kelly was hoping you'd ask.
"What we say, and what we believe is the answer, is proactive policing targeting high crime neighborhoods," he said, adding that 2,657 guns have been plucked from the street this year alone, and that shootings and homicides citywide are down 21 percent on top of 2012’s record low. "It has kept guns out of dangerous hands, and it has prevented New Yorkers from becoming victims on a significant scale."
Tagged
crime
homicides
nypd
operation crew cut
Ray Kelly
shootings
original
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC early voting dips compared to 2025, but spikes in majority-Black districts
Mayor Mamdani's robust support for Gov. Hochul couldn’t quite match the level of early voting in 2025.
By
Brigid Bergin
and
Joe Hong
Published Nov 2, 2026 at 6:06 p.m. ET
NYPD officers shoot man after exchange of gunfire outside Bronx deli, police say
Police say the man threatened people inside a deli before exchanging gunfire with officers. He is expected to survive.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
NYPD officers shoot man after exchange of gunfire outside Bronx deli, police say
Police say the man threatened people inside a deli before exchanging gunfire with officers. He is expected to survive.
By
Giulia Heyward
Washington Square Park snowball thrower gets community service for pelting NYPD
By
Walter Wuthmann
Stabbing of Brooklyn runner believed to be ‘random attack,’ NYPD says
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYPD wants info from schools after 15-year-old Bronx boy shot and killed
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .