Violent Week In The Bronx Continues As Cab Driver Stabbed, Convenience Store Worker Robbed And Stabbed
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- There have been more troubling incidents of violence in the Bronx this week, with two new crimes overnight.
A convenience store employee was stabbed during an armed robbery just hours after police say a cab driver was stabbed by his passengers.
Friday afternoon, that cab driver remained in the hospital, fighting for his life.
As CBS2's John Dias reports, they're images that have become all too familiar for those living in the Bronx - crime scene tape strung up all over the borough the last few days.
"We are all just trying to survive here, with this pandemic, and it's making it worse with this violence," said Pelham resident Denise Ramirez.
Early Friday morning, police say five people held a convenience store worker up at gunpoint by the corner of Grand Concourse and East 170th Street. They then stabbed him in the neck and took off with cash.
During a separate incident, a few hours, earlier and two miles away in Fordham Heights, a taxi driver was stabbed multiple times by three of his passengers after they fought over a fare. He's now fighting for his life.
"These people, they need to be policed. All the ignorance and stupidity going on," said Mike Johnson.
On Thursday, by the Bronx River, police shot and killed a 27-year-old man after he shot at officers first, while disobeying their orders to drop his gun.
Investigators say the shootout happened after he broke into his ex-girlfriends apartment. Hours before that, she testified against him in court for allegedly raping her.
Sources tell CBS2 the suspect had three prior arrests, as recently as last week, and the ex had a restraining order against him.
"This guy has been coming back over here every day looking for her," said neighbor Edwin Rosa.
And no-one is forgetting about the 11-month-old girl who was shot by a stray bullet in the cheek on Wednesday while she was sitting in the car with her mom in Bedford Park.
City data shows shooting incidents in the Bronx are up 20% compared to last year.
"This is certainly not what the people in the Bronx deserve," said Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
Gibson says Gov. Kathy Hochul's new approach to stop the guns before they come to the city is a good start. Hochul wants to use state resources and police to catch trucks on thruways loaded with guns for sale from other states, where they my be legal.
"Obviously, the federal government needs to step up," Gibson said. "We need comprehensive gun control legislation. Reality is these guns are coming in from out of New York state and there is a serious problem with gun trafficking."
As for that baby girl who was shot in the cheek, Friday is her first birthday. Instead of blowing out candles, she's in the hospital still in critical but stable condition. The community is holding a prayer vigil for her Friday night.
Police have yet to make any arrest in these cases.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
