Brooklyn DA dedicates unprecedented resources to combat gun violence

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez on Wednesday announced a comprehensive strategy to fight gun violence in Brooklyn under Stop Violence Initiative.

Gonzalez also dedicated unprecedented new resources to enhance the Office’s analytics, investigative and technological capacity to prevent violence and to hold accountable those who commit gun crimes.

The new investments include a $2 million Digital Evidence Lab, a new Ghost Gun Unit and an executive position focusing on gun violence reduction.

The Office is also making significant new investments in gang violence prevention programs and youth engagement.

“We know what we’re doing in Brooklyn works because shootings here dropped in 2021, as they spiked elsewhere, and we’re seeing that progress continue in the first half of 2022,” Gonzalez said.

“Shootings and murders fell in Brooklyn last year because of a strong focus on the drivers of crime and community engagement, and this initiative will supercharge the most effective strategies,” he added. “We are committing more prosecutors, more technology, and more information-sharing tools to investigate and prosecute those who commit gun crimes, while broadening the community partnership efforts that are critical to violence prevention.

“Working with our partners at every level, this initiative will make Brooklyn safer,” Gonzalez assured.