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NYPD blames drill rap videos for Bronx shootings that killed 4, wounded 7
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 7, 2025
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Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 7, 2025
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Ten people, including three teenagers, have been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with three separate shootings between Aug. 23 and Sept. 2, according to Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the violence stemmed from social media beefs between crews who insult each other based on neighborhood ties.
“They basically disrespect each other based on where they live,” Kenny said. “Or in this case, what park they hang out in.”
He said drill rap, a subgenre where artists make direct and often confrontational accusations in their lyrics and videos, plays a central role.
“So drill rap videos cause a lot of violence and then the retaliation follows,” Kenny said.
Clark said the problem goes beyond music.
“It’s just social media, period, that drives it. They live on social media. It’s almost like an addiction.”
Kenny noted that today’s rivalries are less about traditional gang alliances and more about geography and shifting loyalties.
“The traditional affiliations are getting watered down and they’ll hang out with other crews,” he said.
The shootings took place during a summer when murders and shootings hit historic lows citywide. Police said shootings fell 47% this summer in 72 designated “violence zones” compared to the same period last year after 2,300 officers were redeployed there for 19 weeks.
The spike in Bronx violence prompted Mayor Eric Adams to deploy 1,000 additional officers to the borough in early September and propose hosting meetings with gang members at Gracie Mansion.
The first shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 23, when three defendants allegedly opened fire at a basketball tournament in Haffen Park in Baychester. Police said 32-year-old Jaceil Blanks died at the scene. Seventeen-year-old Anthonaya Campbell was shot in the head and died more than two weeks later, on Sept. 8. Three others were wounded.
Investigators recovered 57 shell casings from 11 different guns, according to prosecutors.
On Sept. 1, five defendants allegedly drove to 686 Allerton Ave. and opened fire, killing 24-year-old Jamari Henry, the suspected target, who had been present at the Haffen Park shooting and wounding four bystanders.
Officers pursued the suspects, who crashed their car at Hone and Arnow Avenues, authorities said. Five firearms were recovered, including a .45-caliber pistol modified with a Glock switch to make it fully automatic, according to officials.
A third shooting on Sept. 2 left 21-year-old Jontay Davis dead near Allerton Avenue and Bronx Park East, officials said. Prosecutors said he was the brother of one of the victims in the previous day’s shooting.
Clark said investigators are still working to determine how the young defendants, two of whom are 16 and one 17, obtained the firearms, which included untraceable ghost guns.
“We will determine who is putting the guns in the hands of these trigger pullers,” she said. “In particular, the youth who are not even old enough to drive, vote, or drink, let alone purchase a gun.”
Prosecutors said they recovered 13 firearms in total. Ballistic tests linked five of them to 13 other shootings across New York City, Mount Vernon and South Carolina.
All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty. They are either being held on bail or remanded without bail.
Attorneys for the defendants did not immediately return requests for comment.
Tagged
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public safety
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Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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