Gregory Stewart Killed in Soundview Public Housing Stairwell as City Ties Record for Longest Period Without Murder
Record-Tying Milestone Interrupted
New York City’s historic 12-day period without a homicide came to an end late Sunday evening when Gregory Stewart, 38, was fatally shot in a stairwell at the Sotomayor Houses public housing complex in the Soundview section of the Bronx. The shooting marked the first homicide investigation undertaken by the NYPD since November 24, tying the city’s record for the longest stretch without a murder in modern history. The record was previously set in 2015 and has now been matched in 2025 as the city continues experiencing historically low levels of violent crime. Emergency medical services transported Stewart to NYC Health+Hospitals/Jacobi after he was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head, but medical personnel were unable to save him. Authorities quickly took a person of interest into custody and are working to determine the motive behind the attack. The investigation continues as detectives interview witnesses and review surveillance footage from the public housing complex.
Context of Historic Crime Reductions
The nearly two-week period without a homicide occurred during a year when New York City achieved the lowest levels of gun violence ever recorded since the NYPD began maintaining comprehensive statistics. During the first eleven months of 2025, the city documented only 652 shooting incidents and 812 shooting victimsboth representing all-time lows in recorded history. These figures continue a long-term trend of declining violent crime that has transformed New York from one of America’s most dangerous cities in the early 1990s to one of its safest large metropolitan areas. November 2025 also set records with only 16 murders reported, tying the previous low established in 2018. The consistent achievement of record-low crime statistics across multiple categories demonstrates the sustained effectiveness of the city’s public safety strategies. According to the NYPD’s crime data, these improvements have been distributed across all five boroughs, though some neighborhoods have seen more dramatic reductions than others.
NYPD Leadership Response
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch praised the department’s performance in achieving these historic milestones, emphasizing that the results stem from strategic planning and dedicated execution by NYPD personnel. In her statement following the announcement of the record-tying achievement, Tisch highlighted how the combination of careful strategy and professional implementation has driven violent crime to unprecedented lows. The NYPD has implemented numerous data-driven approaches focusing resources on areas with historically higher crime rates while maintaining strong relationships with communities throughout the city. These strategies include enhanced patrol patterns, improved response times to emergency calls, and better coordination between precincts and specialized units. The department has also invested in technology upgrades including improved surveillance systems and data analytics capabilities to enhance crime prevention and investigation efforts. Training programs have been updated to emphasize de-escalation techniques and community engagement alongside traditional law enforcement skills.
Public Housing Safety Challenges
The shooting at Sotomayor Houses highlights ongoing safety challenges in New York City’s public housing developments, which house approximately 400,000 residents across the five boroughs. While overall crime has declined citywide, public housing complexes continue experiencing disproportionate levels of violence relative to surrounding neighborhoods. The New York City Housing Authority has implemented various security measures in recent years including improved lighting, enhanced surveillance camera systems, and increased security personnel. However, advocates argue that more comprehensive approaches addressing underlying social and economic factors contributing to violence in these communities are necessary. The incident serves as a reminder that despite remarkable citywide progress in reducing violent crime, significant work remains to ensure all New Yorkers feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. Targeted interventions in areas experiencing elevated crime levels remain priorities for law enforcement and community organizations.
Soundview Neighborhood Context
Soundview, located in the southeastern Bronx, is a diverse working-class neighborhood that has experienced its own crime reduction successes in recent years while continuing to face challenges. The area includes several public housing developments alongside private housing stock and has benefited from economic development initiatives and community programs. Local community organizations have worked to provide youth programming, job training, and social services aimed at addressing root causes of violence. These efforts complement law enforcement activities by offering alternatives to criminal behavior and supporting residents facing economic or social challenges. The partnership between law enforcement and community organizations represents an important component of New York City’s overall approach to public safety.
Federal Oversight Considerations
The record-tying achievement comes as the Trump administration has discussed potentially deploying National Guard troops to New York City streets. This proposal has generated debate among city officials, community leaders, and public safety experts about whether such federal intervention is necessary or appropriate given the dramatic crime reductions already achieved. Critics of federal involvement argue that current strategies are clearly working and that military presence in civilian law enforcement would be counterproductive and potentially harmful to community relations. They point to the NYPD’s success in reducing crime through existing methods as evidence that additional federal resources are unnecessary. Supporters suggest that additional resources could further enhance public safety and help address persistent challenges in specific neighborhoods. However, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD leadership have not publicly requested federal military assistance.
Looking Ahead
As the NYPD investigates the Soundview shooting that ended the city’s homicide-free streak, officials remain committed to building upon recent public safety achievements. The department plans to continue refining its strategies while adapting to emerging challenges including gang violence, the drug trade, and other threats to public safety. Commissioner Tisch has emphasized the importance of sustained commitment from all stakeholderslaw enforcement, community organizations, elected officials, and residentsin preserving and extending the city’s safety gains. The department recognizes that maintaining historically low crime levels requires ongoing effort and cannot be taken for granted. The 12-day period without a homicide, while ultimately broken by tragic violence, demonstrates the remarkable progress New York City has made in addressing violent crime. This achievement provides hope that continued improvements remain possible through dedicated effort, effective strategies, and collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
