Over a dozen weapons found at Francis Lewis High School 1 day after 3 teens shot nearby
NEW YORK -- There was a shocking discovery after metal detectors were sent to a Queens high school one day after a brazen daylight shooting that left three teenagers injured.
Now, Mayor Eric Adams is taking action, ordering his precinct commanders and top NYPD brass to attend an unusual weekend meeting, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported Thursday.
One top NYPD official described the meeting at police headquarters this Saturday as a "beat down." The mayor's spokesman told Kramer only that his boss regards himself as a general who intends to lead from the front.
But for many of us, the number of weapons found at Francis Lewis High School on Thursday was astounding.
"The weapons count went to over 20 and they're still counting. I know they have a stun gun and pepper spray from one student, have a lot of knives," Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd said.
Students at Francis Lewis High in Fresh Meadows had to wait on long lines and take directions from school safety agents on Thursday, following the stunning daylight shooting that left three students wounded, including a 14-year-old Asian girl who was shot in the neck, has a bullet lodged in her spine, and still hasn't regained consciousness.
Police sources said a group of students, many from Francis Lewis High, were walking home on 188th Street. The occupant of a silver sedan began shouting at the kids, police say, and then a man got out of the car and opened fire.
Thursday night, police released a photo of at least four people they're looking for.
"It's not happening in the middle of the night. It's happening in the afternoon, on a busy street, in a busy area where kids congregate after school," Fresh Meadows parent George Douveas said.
The mayor was outraged both about the shooting and the cache of weapons found at the school.
"There should be no doubt that keeping New York City safe is my top priority," he told CBS2, adding, "It is unacceptable for prohibited items to be taken to school."
But the head of the school safety union said he thinks the kids brought the weapons to school to protect themselves after the shooting, which happened in one of the safest areas of the city.
"This is troubling that children feel that they have to protect themselves because the adults are not protecting them," Floyd said.
All this as Adams is planning an unusual meeting at police headquarters on Saturday with more than 100 top brass, including the commanders of all 77 precincts.
There have been 36,274 major crimes, like murder, rape, robbery and assault, since Adams took office, up nearly 43 percent from 2021.
The official line is that the mayor wants his commanders to offer ideas on how to combat crime, but many see it as a combination motivational speech and dressing down.
He made his feelings quite clear just two days ago during his state of the city speech.
"New Yorkers have a right to be angry, a right to expect more, to feel safe, to be safe, to know that your city is looking out for you," Adams said.
School safety is sure to be on the mayor's agenda when he meets with his commanders, and so will a lot of other issues, including stopping the flow of illegal guns and the serious increase in assaults on the subway system.
Families affected by gun violence agree that something has to change because the city cannot continue on like this.
Loved ones of Jeremy Santana gathered in Brooklyn on Thursday, standing on the block where the 38-year-old was gunned down four days prior.
"It was my son that was taken from me," Lucy Lebron, Santana's mother, said.
At the gathering, they pleaded for city officials to put an end to the rise in gun violence.
"We need more visibility of the police on the street," said Bishop Joel Seabrooks, with United Clergy Coalition. "I see them in police cars, but we need to see them in our community, in the streets, developing a rapport."
"It was my brother today, but it could be your brother tomorrow," said Danny Santana, the victim's brother.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reports, the latest NYPD shows 441 people have been shot citywide so far this year, up 8.6% compared to this time last year and up 85.3% compared to two years ago.
Jeremy Santana's mother fears if things don't change, there will only be more grieving mothers standing beside her.
"Please, because my pain today, I don't want you to feel this pain," she said.
