Fears and doubts over rising violent crime in New York City have increased after a grisly, broad-daylight fatal stabbing occurred in Manhattan last week.
On Friday, one man was fatally stabbed by another near a busy street corner while morning commuters watched.
Witnesses say the fight began between the two men in the middle of a crosswalk near West 30th Street and Seventh Avenue, and police responded to the scene shortly afterward.
Nisean Graves, a 36-year-old and registered sex offender, was taken into custody and has since been charged with murder for the stabbing.
The victim had a warrant out for his arrest in connection with a violent murder in Maryland, and Graves was also sentenced to a year in prison for a previous incident in which he stabbed a person in both arms in Manhattan.
But beyond the details of the crime, the brazen nature of it has sent shockwaves through Manhattan, leaving some concerned about a rise in violence in the city.
“What about ‘bystander’ de-escalation, so promoted by progressives?” asked Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and columnist at the New York Post.
According to NYPD data, violent crime is indeed on the rise in New York City. Total crimes are up from last year, with felony assault, car thefts, and rapes increasing from the same time in 2021.
That’s why some have begun to question if recently enacted progressive reforms to the criminal justice system are what’s driving this uptick in crime.
“Democrats created this,” a Twitter user wrote, referencing Graves’ previous convictions.
Now, many are left wondering if a laxer approach to criminality is what’s fueling this rise in violence and what steps need to be taken to address it, and keep New York City streets safe.
Meanwhile, the NYPD is continuing to investigate the stabbing, and it’s worth noting that at least two other murders have occurred in broad daylight thus far this year, one in February and another in April.
Those incidents leave little doubt that tougher measures are needed to protect New Yorkers, and until those measures are implemented, there are likely to be even more tense moments like the one seen last week.