D’aja Robinson’s life was taken at the age of 14 by a stray bullet. Her Jamaica community responded by hosting a gun buyback event in an effort to get weapons off the street.
On Saturday, the NYPD, district attorney and borough president put on the event at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Residents who came and turned in a weapon — no questions asked — received a $200 bank card in return.
Twenty-nine weapons were recovered, including 17 revolvers, eight semi-automatics, one rifle and three others, including BB guns and starter guns, police said.
“It is a commendable endeavor that Borough President [Helen] Marshall, District Attorney [Richard] Brown and the NYPD coordinated the gun buyback program in memory of the late D’aja Robinson,” said Councilmember Ruben Wills.
“Success will be ours the day we will no longer have to hold a gun buyback program.”
RECOMMENDED STORIES
- Mayor: Police stop too many whites, not enough minorities
- 57 NYPD surveillance cameras to be installed around Queens
- Queens community comes together to stop the violence