New York City sees spike in murders and shootings amid George Floyd protests: Report

The city saw 13 murders between June 1-7, with 40 reported shootings, the sources said. There were five murders and 24 shootings during the same time period in 2019.

Chicago police have reported similar spikes in murders and shootings compared with 2019. Shootings increased by 71% in May compared with the year before, with 409 people shot, and murders were up 60%, with 85 reported.

Protests, and in some cases riots, have spread across the country in nearly every major city as people decry police brutality following Floyd’s death.

Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died on Memorial Day after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes despite his pleas for air.

The officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired from the department and has been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers who were involved in detaining Floyd, who was suspected of using a fake $20 bill, were also fired and charged with aiding and abetting murder.

New York City saw some of the most violent protests, with officers attacked in some cases, including one who was struck by a hit-and-run driver, one who was beaten in the Bronx, and another who was “nearly killed” when a brick was thrown at him.

The New York City Police Department reported that hundreds of officers were injured during the protests. Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik said hundreds more were planning to leave the force.

“You have some in the hospital. But there were over 300, 300 injuries. And the thing that scares me, judge, I’m hearing close to 600 cops have either put in their papers, or they’re talking to the department about resigning or retiring, like this is insane,” he told Fox News host and former Judge Jeanine Pirro over the weekend.