QUEENS — The number of shootings in Jamaica fell by nearly 32 percent last year, a decrease that police officials attributed to aggressive efforts to confiscate illegal firearms.
Last year, there were 30 shooting incidents in the 103rd Precinct, which covers Jamaica and Hollis. In 2012, there were 44 shooting incidents in the area, nearly 32 percent more.
“How do we keep people from getting shot? We confiscate illegal guns, whether it be through search warrants, through concerned community members calling on somebody, tips to gun stoppers — all this helps,” said Inspector Charles McEvoy, commanding officer of the precinct, during a 103rd Precinct Community Council meeting Tuesday evening.
McEvoy said that in 2013, 62 illegal guns were confiscated and 118 people were charged with illegal weapon possession in the area, compared to 57 illegal guns confiscated and 93 people charged the year before.
Overall crime in the 103rd Precinct declined by 2.2 percent in 2013, compared to the previous year.
McEvoy said that crime decreased in almost all major categories.
There were 8 murders in the area in 2013, compared to 10 in 2012.
The number of burglaries fell by 4.2 percent, from 310 in 2012 to 299 in 2013, and there were 369 felony assaults in 2013, compared to 377 in 2012.
Rape was the only crime category that had an increase. In 2013, there were 37 rapes in the 103rd Precinct, compared to 34 the year before.
McEvoy said most of the attacks were between people who knew each other.
