The Paw Print

A news publication created by Baruch's College Now high school journalism class

Shooting at Bedford Park Pizza Shop Reverberates Through Community

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A few months ago Carlos Akino moved with his family from Bedford Park because of violence that broke out at a pizza shop down the block from where he lived.

“It was scary having something like that happen so close to you,” said Carlos. “George’s Pizza was like the father of the neighborhood. It was my after school hangout. The food was good and [it made the] neighborhood calmer.”

After the shooting, he started to notice more graffiti popping up on the walls of buildings in the neighborhood. 

“Ever since that shooting took place, stores have been closing down like wild fire,” said Mr. Felix. “Its hard enough that as storeowners we have to deal with problems in our every day lives, but to deal with violence on this is just ridiculous.”
Since the shooting, Mr. Felix has closed his café.
The business owners of Bedford Park were not the only ones affected though. Residents like Jane Rose who have been long time residents of 204 street have also noticed changes within the neighborhood.

“Bedford was not always like this,” she said. “There was a time when everything was quiet, calm and relaxing. There was even a teashop I used to go, to get bubble tea and coffee. Sadly it closed down right after the shooting. It’s a shame since that store was something new for the neighborhood”.

Still, Rose insisted that she would not move out of the neighborhood, even if the violence continued to escalate. “Just because I am old; I am not going to let a bunch of street punks scare me out of my neighborhood,” she said. 

This shooting, which resulted in one death, is rumored to be gang related.  

“They had to have killed him because he was probably from a rival gang member or he had started a problem,” said a gang member who asked to be anonymous. “They would not have killed unless he had brought trouble upon himself. Usually the only time when a gun is involved in gang activity is either for robbery, initiation, killing a rival gang member or a personal vendetta.”

The gang member also said “this shooting should not escalate into a bigger problem, unless it’s a territory issue.” 

But the real damage has already been done to 204 street, even if longtime residents like Rose are clinging to the neighborhood.

“I will not let them take over my home,” said Rose.