On New Year’s Day, four suspects opened fire on a crowd of 15 outside a Queens concert hall, injuring ten teenagers attending a vigil for a recently deceased 16-year-old. The suspects, who police believe are gang-affiliated, fled in a light-colored sedan with New Jersey plates. All victims are expected to recover from non-life-threatening injuries, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. The incident, while seemingly isolated to the venue, has prompted renewed calls for stricter gun control measures.
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A mass shooting occurred outside the Amazura event hall in Queens on January 1, 2025, injuring at least ten people. Two to three suspects opened fire on a crowd of approximately eighty people gathered for a private party celebrating the birthday of a recently deceased gang member. The shooting took place near the 103rd Precinct, and several victims sought treatment independently at a local hospital. Police are investigating and searching for at least two suspects currently at large. Further updates are expected from NYPD officials.
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Six individuals, including a 40-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, sustained injuries in a Bronx convenience store shooting. Two gunmen, described as wearing a black Nike sweatsuit and a gray hoodie, respectively, opened fire, using the mother and daughter as human shields. The four other victims, males aged 18-21, suffered gunshot wounds to their extremities. Police are currently investigating the motive and seeking information from the public.
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At least 184 people were killed in Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince, over the weekend, bringing the year’s death toll to an estimated 5,000. A gang leader, blaming Vodou practitioners for his son’s illness, orchestrated a massacre targeting elderly individuals and Vodou followers. The violence, which included mutilation and burning of bodies, highlights the escalating gang control in Haiti, exacerbated by political instability and the ongoing presence of armed groups. This incident adds to the existing humanitarian crisis, with over 700,000 Haitians internally displaced.
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Following incidents of gunfire directed at civilian aircraft in Haiti, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a 30-day ban on U.S. civilian flights to and from the country, effective immediately. This ban also prohibits U.S. flights from operating below 10,000 feet in Haitian airspace. The decision was made out of concern for the safety of passengers and crew, as both Spirit Airlines and American Airlines reported incidents of their aircraft being struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. American Airlines has suspended flights to the Haitian capital through February 12th, and JetBlue Airways has also temporarily ceased service to Haiti.
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A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince was struck by gunfire upon landing, injuring a flight attendant and prompting the airline to suspend flights to Haiti. This is the second such incident in three weeks, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, where armed gangs control large portions of the country and have recently targeted aircraft. Following this incident, American Airlines and JetBlue have also suspended flights to Haiti, further isolating the nation in the midst of a political crisis.
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The recent gang attack in Haiti that resulted in the deaths of 70 people, including infants, has left me feeling deeply unsettled and saddened. The extreme level of lawlessness in Haiti that allows such tragedies to occur is both shocking and heartbreaking. The fact that innocent lives, including those of infants, are being lost in such a senseless and brutal manner is truly devastating.
The lack of stability and security in Haiti is a root cause of such violence and chaos. The need for a strong, coordinated effort to address the underlying issues and restore order is evident. The idea of a world police or intervention to conquer Haiti and establish a new government may seem extreme, but it is clear that drastic measures are necessary to prevent such atrocities from happening again and again.… Continue reading
Over 6,000 people in Haiti leave their homes after gang attack killed dozens. It’s a tragic and heartbreaking situation unfolding in a country that has been plagued by violence and instability for far too long. The recent gang attack that resulted in the death of dozens of individuals has forced thousands to flee their homes in search of safety and security. The question that lingers in the air is, what is the correct answer for this failed state? With the country seemingly being run by gangs, is there any form of functioning government left?
The stark difference between Haiti and its neighboring country, the Dominican Republic, is perplexing.… Continue reading
I woke up to heartbreaking news of another mass shooting, this time in Alabama. Four people dead and dozens injured in an incident at a club called Hush. This tragedy pushes Birmingham’s homicide rate up, a staggering number for a city with less than 200k residents. It’s devastating to see this senseless violence happening in our communities.
The response to these incidents is often frustrating. The right blames mental health, not guns, for these tragedies. Yet, they fail to support bills that would expand mental health funding and services. It’s contradictory and hypocritical to point fingers without taking real action to prevent these atrocities from happening again.… Continue reading
I can’t help but feel a sense of deep sadness and frustration regarding the recent news of the two US missionaries killed in Haiti due to gang violence. The fact that Natalie and David Lloyd, along with their Haitian friend Jude Montis, were ambushed by gunmen while leaving a church is truly heartbreaking. As a former helicopter EMS worker in Haiti, I can attest to the chaos and danger that plagues the country. It’s a nation teetering on the brink of complete anarchy, where armed gangs have taken control in the absence of a functioning government.
The tragic deaths of the Lloyd couple and Montis highlight the harsh reality of the situation on the ground in Haiti.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker