Queens Assaults Surge 10% Amid 2023's Citywide Crime Dip: NYPD

QUEENS, NY — Queens residents have suffered hundreds more beat downs, domestic violence attacks, stabbing and other assaults so far in 2023, a despite a citywide drop in crime from last year, NYPD data shows.

Felony assaults rose nearly 10 percent during the first nine months this year in the NYPD's north and south Queens patrol boroughs, according to crime statistics.

The increase outpaces the citywide 5.9 percent rise in felony assaults that top NYPD officials recently highlighted as one of a few blips in an otherwise downward trajectory for crime.

A surge in domestic violence contributed to the wider increase in felony assaults, said Michael LiPetri, the department's chief of crime control strategies. He said violence against police officers also led to the rise.

"Obviously, our enforcement is way up and, unfortunately, assaults on our police officers are up," he said last week.

The rise in felony assaults isn't just a minor increase.

Incidents in the NYPD's Queens North district are up 47.4 percent compared to the same span two years ago, and 86.8 percent from 13 years ago, data shows.

Queens South saw a slightly smaller increase of 14 percent from two years ago, and 66.6 percent from 13 years prior, according to data.

The recent rise in felony assaults hit even peaceful neighborhoods such as the Upper East Side and coincided with a wave of TikTok videos from women who recounted recently being randomly punched by men on the street.