At least 19 injured in separate New York City shootings

APD NEWS

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Police officers monitor a protest over the death of George Floyd in New York, the United States, June 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The incidents happened on the first weekend since the NYPD disbanded its undercover anti-crime unit.

NEW YORK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 shootings have happened across New York City since early Saturday, injuring at least 19 people, local media reported.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said on Saturday afternoon that it is investigating 13 separate shootings since midnight, with six in the borough of the Bronx, two in Queens, four in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan, NBC New York cited an NYPD spokesperson as saying.

At least one of the injured is in critical condition. The victims' ages range from 16 to 47, the report said.

Other details, including possible motives, were not provided by the NYPD.

Police officers monitor a protest over the death of George Floyd in New York, the United States, June 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The incidents happened on the first weekend since the NYPD disbanded its undercover anti-crime unit.

On June 15, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said the department would immediately transition some 600 plainclothes anti-crime officers to other assignments including neighborhood policing and detective work.

Earlier this week, the department announced citywide crime statistics for May, showing there were 100 shooting incidents, a 64-percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Police officers stand guard at Times Square after curfew in New York City, the United States, June 1, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the number of murders saw a 79-percent increase, the crime of auto theft increased by 68 percent, and burglary increased by 34 percent, according to a press release.

The NYPD said its summer All-Out initiative, which has been successful in prior years, is in effect again this year. Hundreds of uniformed officers will fan out across some 10 neighborhoods that have experienced upticks in crime. ■