Newburgh residents alter lives as violence increases in their apartment community
Several residents said fights and gun violence were unusual in the complex, which is operated by the Newburgh Housing Authority, until about a year ago.
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Some Newburgh residents said Tuesday their once-calm apartment community is now being tormented by a series of shootings and other violent incidents involving teens and younger.
Lillie Howard showed News 12 where a bullet was lodged in the front door of her unit at Mullins Apartments on Walsh Road.
Police responded to a shooting next to the complex Saturday evening.
City officials said a 12-year-old was shot in the hand, and the shooter is at large.
It was the latest in a series of incidents over the past year that have residents limiting their children's outside time, especially in the evenings.
"We need more things for the youth to do," Howard, a longtime Newburgh activist, said, "more positive things for them to do."
Several residents said fights and gun violence were unusual in the complex, which is operated by the Newburgh Housing Authority, until about a year ago.
One of those incidents took place in March 2024 when, according to police, teenagers were playing with guns at the playground at the back of the complex.
Newburgh Housing Authority board chairperson Veronica Artis said she plans to call a special board meeting to discuss the recent violence.
Artis wants complex management to hire security guards at certain times of day and for police to regularly visit the area.
She said more can be done to protect her 11-year-old son from the people who have been disrupting their community.
"They know they can come down here, smoke, drink, loiter, shoot," she said, "and nothing will be done."
Newburgh Housing Authority Director Lawrence Jackson said he is looking into the ways to change the atmosphere, and is about to send a note to residents.
"This is a close-knit community," Jackson said. "That's why everybody's kind of up in [arms]. We're just trying to work with the police department and see what we can do to help them."
Jackson said he is seeking a meeting with leaders at Newburgh Police to discuss solutions.
He said he would like to see more general police patrol and community policing projects.
Jackson, who has run the Housing Authority for 12 years, said the police department used to do outreach in the apartment community but has not in recent years.
The 12-year-old who was shot is expected to recover.
Newburgh police are seeking information from anyone who was in the area at the time of the Saturday's shooting.
