On Friday, police conducted a search for firearms and narcotics at a migrant shelter located on Randall’s Island. This came after a woman was fatally shot in a triple shooting incident earlier in the week. 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 reported the news.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry emphasized that ensuring the safety and security of all New Yorkers, including those under their care, is their utmost priority. As a result, the NYPD has launched an operation at the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randall’s Island to eliminate any hazardous contraband from the shelter.
According to sources from 1010 WINS/WCBS 880, the NYPD conducted a search of the Randall’s Island migrant center due to concerns over public safety, recent shootings, and violence. The search aimed to uncover any weapons, contraband, and other illegal activities, including potential gang-related ones. It is worth noting that the center is currently home to almost 3,000 people who reside in five tents.
In response to the police raid on 3,000 new arrivals, The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless have issued a joint statement condemning the actions. The organizations raised serious constitutional questions and criticized the raid as draconian and fueling dangerous xenophobic sentiment. The statement also expressed concern about the trauma inflicted on the clients and other shelter residents, who have already endured significant hardships due to their sexual and gender identities, political affiliations, and other factors, both during their journeys to New York and in their home countries. The timing of the raid, despite a heat advisory, was also called into question.
Sources report that the police took necessary precautions and evacuated the center. They also arranged for cooling buses, water, and ambulances on standby to ensure the safety of everyone present. The authorities carried out a thorough search for weapons, contraband, and illegal substances during the evacuation process.
According to the Legal Aid Society, the NYPD has been falsely warning about a supposed “migrant crime wave” in New York City for several months. However, the data does not support this rhetoric. The Society sees this as a cynical ploy to placate certain vocal opponents of shelters for new arrivals, decrease the number of people staying in shelters, and give the appearance of being tough on crime.
According to police, a shooting incident took place on August 1, resulting in the death of 44-year-old Sandra Serrano, whose most recent address was listed as the shelter on Randall’s Island. Serrano sustained gunshot wounds to the face and back, and was pronounced dead at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem.
In the wee hours of the morning at Field 71 under the Triborough Bridge, a shooting occurred leaving a 32-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman injured. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the throat, while the woman was shot in the back. Fortunately, they are both in stable condition and are currently receiving medical attention at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem. The police are investigating the incident.
The reason behind the shooting and the intended victim remain unknown. As per the report by WABC-TV, the incident took place while a celebration was taking place on the field near the shelter. The New York Police Department is currently on the lookout for two male suspects. One of the suspects fled the scene in a car with New Mexico plates, whereas the other made a getaway on a moped. The police have not released any images or descriptions of the suspects yet. The NYPD has announced a reward of up to $3,500 for any information related to the case.
In March, a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. was implemented at Randall’s Island, which houses the city’s largest shelter for asylum seekers. This action was taken due to previous issues at the complex.
