Shaped By Survival: Gang Violence in the Bronx
“Although teens may be participants in their environment, they are also products of their environment.”
As I walk through both of my neighborhoods on 149th & 170th Street in the Bronx, the sounds of this place some call “home” are impossible to ignore, from sirens in the distance, to the occasional shouting on the block, to the subtle hum of people just trying to get through the day. For many of us teenagers here, growing up means learning to survive before even thinking about having a chance to live. The contrast between shots ringing out and memorial candles being placed on sidewalks aren’t shocking anymore. Instead, they’re just a part of the scenery. Gun violence, fear, and resilience shape the way Bronx teens grow up, forcing us to learn how to survive before even having the thought of freedom in our heads.
According to NYPD statistics, the 40th Precinct, located in the Bronx, has recorded 11 murders so far this year, down from 12 in 2024, a 8.3% change. The 44th Precinct, also located in the same borough, shows a little bit of a drop: 8 murders in 2025 compared to 13 in the previous year, a 38.5% change. On record, things might seem like they’re improving, but these numbers don’t really capture the full picture of what it’s like to grow up here. Nowadays, teens are navigating a world where fear and caution are constants, where making it home safely isn’t promised, and where survival becomes second nature.
Furthermore, District Attorney Darcel D. Clark has spoken about the active teen violence in our area with urgency: “The time is now for a concerted and precise effort with the NYPD and our federal partners to stem the flow of weapons into our community.” She has particularly highlighted the dangers for teens: “We will determine who is putting the guns in the hands of these trigger pullers, in particular the youth, who are not even old enough to drive, vote, or drink— let alone purchase a gun.”
Clark is stressing the severity of gun violence in this young generation and how much it affects those too young to even comprehend the weight of everything happening around them.
Youth involvement with guns does not happen on its own. There are other factors. Research from Vital City states, “Gun violence among young people mirrors the overall pattern of gun violence in the city.” In addition to that, “If gun violence is increasing among adults in a neighborhood, it is likely increasing among young people as well.”
Although teens may be participants in their environment, they are also products of their environment: neighborhoods shaped by poverty, limited resources, unstable housing, weak community investment, and the continuous presence of danger. These systemic issues make up the conditions in which teens have no choice but to grow up in.
I asked my childhood friend, DJ, a 16-year old who’s lived here all his life, about what it's really like living in this environment. He told me:
“Coming from where we come from, tomorrow isn’t promised. You have to remember that not everyone you associate yourself with is your so-called “friend”; your circle needs to be tight, sometimes it be the ones closest to you. Bullets have no name, they can come from any direction at any given time — it's really crazy to me how police can stay outside on the block all day but there’s no change in the numbers whatsoever.”
Speaking to DJ reminded me how important it is to shed light on the fact that survival instincts are practically second nature for teens living here. Even if you are typically a kid who stays out of the way, being aware of your surroundings is a must.
I also asked my father, Angel, about what it took raising me in the Bronx:
“We always kept you involved with some sort of programs outside of school, in order to keep you out of the streets. I remind you everyday to stay away from anything and/or anyone that would cost you your life. Every time you step foot out of this house you have no choice but to be on point; some of these kids out here have nothing to lose and will throw their lives away in a second.”
His words represent just how much fear parents carry around, similar to their children, always trying to protect them from something they aren’t able to fully control. Their fear stems from witnessing generation after generation dealing with the same cycles. This is another prime example of how systemic issues shape daily life in the Bronx.
And then there are the mothers, somewhat like mine, who live with a daily fear. There was recently a story that came out about a kid named Tyson, a 16-year-old who was shot in the head in Brooklyn, NY. His mother, who calls herself overprotective, described the devastating moment when she found this out:
“I could just try to move forward. I don’t know how, but I would try for my son. I sat and watched my son lying there for hours before being picked up, and I felt that my son felt alone. My son doesn’t even know that I ran to his side.”
No mother should ever have to endure that kind of pain, ever. In the Bronx, overprotective parents are what we need; they’re the rule, not the exception.
Life here is about resilience. Teenagers like DJ are simply trying to push through life in a complicated world that involves balancing school, friendships, responsibilities, and more, all while still having to be aware of danger at all times. Yet, despite everything, the one thing they hold onto is hope. They attend school, dream of being a professional in their chosen sport, and work hard so that they’ll be able to break the cycle of violence in which they see everyday.
The Bronx community is more than just statistics and headlines. It's a place of determination, where people refuse to be defined by the circumstances they were born into. The environment shapes identity, no doubt, but it too creates perseverance, resourcefulness, and courage.