STATEN ISLAND — District Attorney Michael McMahon has launched a new unit dedicated solely to prosecuting gun cases on Staten Island.
The Firearms Anti-Violence Unit, headed by Assistant District Attorney Nina Spadafora, will handle all felony gun cases — including murders — in the borough and create community programs to lessen the numbers, McMahon said.
"This new Firearms Anti-Violence Unit is part of our ever vigilant fight to drive the crime numbers down and keep the streets of Staten Island safe by jailing those who victimize others with gun violence or traffic in the sale of illegal weapons," McMahon said.
"No community should ever have to live in fear of gun violence."
Aside from Spadafora, the new unit will be staffed by ADA Kate Malloy, two RCDA detective investigators, a crime analyst and legal support staff, McMahon said.
Shootings have decreased slightly so far this year but arrests around the borough have increased, especially in the NYPD's 120 and 121 precincts, according to the DA and NYPD CompStat numbers.
There have been 116 gun arrests so far this year, an increase of 17.2 percent, with 53 in the 120 Precinct alone — up 51.4 percent from last year, the DA said.
So far this year, there have been 31 shootings in the borough with 33 victims, according to the most recent CompStat numbers.
In the entirety of last year, the borough had 38 shootings and 41 victims, according to CompStat.
