NEW YORK — It’s difficult for Joan Tamarez to speak about her son, Winston Ortiz, who was killed in a senseless act of violence just last year.
“He was stabbed and set on fire,” Tamarez said. “Winston was a very humble kid. He was very shy. He didn't talk much. He was very calm.”
That’s why Tamarez and her sister joined a peace rally in Corona, Queens, on Friday to march against rising crime in the city.
What You Need To Know
- Community members, leaders and clergy members led a peace march in Corona to rally against rising violence
- Last weekend, 10 people were injured in a shooting in the area in which they marched. Out of the 10 victims, 3 gang members are believed to be the intended targets.
- According to the NYPD, the number of shooting victims has risen 250% since last year in the 115th Precinct area
Activists, community leaders and clergy members marched throughout the 115th Precinct area and stopped on 37th Avenue, where 10 people were shot last week. Police said out of the 10 victims, three gang members were believed to be the intended targets.
Community activists are calling on the community and city leaders to put a stop to the gun violence.
“To our elected officials: it’s time to do your job. It’s time for you to get out here and understand there needs to be some rules and regulations that actually stick,” said community activist Tony Herbert, “that put these individuals in jail that walk around with illegal weapons. It’s time to stop this stupidity in our city.”
According to the NYPD, the number of shooting victims in the precinct area rose 250% from last year, and in the city shooting incidents rose over 15 percent.
“I want to say clearly to the individuals out here that have these guns: put them down!” Herbert said. “At the end of the day, you’re not doing anything but destroying the very fabric of our community.”
As they marched through the streets calling for a safer community, they stopped to pray in hopes of one day seeing an end to the crime that they said had taken over the place they called home.
“We are tired of burying young people,” Nancy Tamarez said. “We need the crime to stop.”
No arrests have been made in that shooting. The NYPD is asking the community to help find those involved. They ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
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