Year of violence: Crimes that shook NYC in 2024

The Big Apple was rocked with a slew of violent crimes that sparked local and nationwide fury this year – from the murder of an NYPD officer to a broad-daylight deadly stabbing spree to the brazen fatal torching of a sleeping woman on board a Brooklyn train. 

Overall felony crime on both the city’s streets and subways declined this year, according to the latest data, updated Sunday. 

But felony assaults specifically spiked by about 5 percent on the streets, compared to last year, and murders on the rails doubled from 5 to 10.

Here are some of 2024’s most shocking crime stories, as covered by The Post. 

Teen migrant allegedly shoots tourist, fires at security guard, NYPD cop 

A 15-year-old migrant allegedly shot a tourist while firing at a security guard and later aimed his gun at an NYPD officer in the heart of Times Square on Feb. 8, cops said. 

Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa, of Venezuela, and two other teens were allegedly trying to shoplift from JD Sports on West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue around 7 p.m. when a security guard stopped them. 

That’s when Rivas-Figueroa pulled out a .45-caliber pistol and shot at the guard — but the bullet inadvertently struck a Brazilian tourist in the leg, police said.

The fleeing Rivas-Figueroa then allegedly fired toward a pursuing officer twice, but missed. 

The teen was charged as an adult, but was required to stay in a juvenile facility because of his age, officials said.

NYPD cop Jonathan Diller killed during traffic stop

Three-year NYPD veteran and married dad Jonathan Diller, 31, was fatally shot in the line of duty during a March 25 car stop in Queens. 

Diller had gone to check on a suspicious-looking Kia Soul parked in a Far Rockaway bus stop, where 34-year-old alleged shooter Guy Rivera was sitting with accused cohort Lindy Jones, 41, who was behind the wheel.

Diller spotted what looked like a gun in the pocket of Rivera’s sweatshirt and ordered the ex-con out of the car — only to have him open fire.

Diller – who was promoted to detective posthumously – was struck below his bullet-proof vest and gasped, “I’m hit!” before collapsing. 

He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Both Rivera and Jones were arrested and since have been ordered held without bail.

Maniac slashes girl, 11, in Harlem spree

A lunatic allegedly punched a woman in the face and then slashed an 11-year-old girl with a box cutter in a broad-daylight Harlem spree – before a vigilante mob tried to take matters into their own hands, authorities said. 

Shaquan Cummings, 30, allegedly snarled, “B—h, get the f–k out of my way,” before allegedly punching a 43-year-old-woman in the face in front of the 116th Street No. 6 subway station around 2:15 p.m. May 10, prosecutors said. 

He then crossed the street and used a box cutter to slash an 11-year-old girl, who was walking with her mom, on the head — leaving a 7-inch gash right behind her ear, the DA’s office said. 

An irate crowd of locals tried to attack Cummings – who sources said had more than 20 prior arrests – as police attempted to arrest him.

He now faces multiple charges, including assault, attempted assault, endangering the welfare of a child and weapon possession, the DA’s office said. 

Innocent girl, 7, struck by stray bullet in NYC 

A 7-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet in a broad daylight Nov. 11 shooting on a Harlem corner, authorities and sources said.

A bullet pierced the youngster’s stomach as she was walking with her family at the intersection of West 145th Street and Bradhurst Avenue around 2:50 p.m., cops and sources said.

Suspects Daniel Idowu, 19, and True Womack, 17, were allegedly aiming towards a group of other people in a potentially gang-linked burst of violence when they inadvertently hit little Fatou Keita, according to prosecutors and sources.

Both teens were charged in separate New York State Supreme Court indictments with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, the DA’s office said. 

During the younger teen’s arraignment, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Antignani said the shooting “shocks the conscience of anyone living in New York.”

3 killed in Manhattan stabbing spree

A homeless man with a lengthy rap sheet senselessly stabbed three people to death in a broad-daylight spree that spanned the entire width of Manhattan Nov. 18, cops said.

Ramon Rivera, 51, allegedly targeted a 36-year-old male construction worker waiting to be picked up from work, a 67-year-old man who was fishing in the East River, and a woman, also 36 – in the horrific morning attacks spanning from Chelsea to the shadow of the United Nations building. 

Rivera chillingly told police later that he chose his victims because they were “alone” and “distracted,” sources said. 

He was indicted on charges of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder at his Supreme Court arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court, and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Midtown street

A gunman fueled by rage against the health care industry brazenly executed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, in a targeted, caught-on-video attack outside Midtown’s Hilton Hotel, where the insurance boss was attending an investor’s conference, authorities said.

Alleged killer Luigi Mangione, 26, who cops say used a ghost gun in the Dec. 4 morning murder, was busted at an Altoona, Pa. McDonald’s less than a week later, following a nationwide manhunt. 

Mangione, who was hit with federal murder, gun and stalking charges, was also indicted on 11 counts in state court, including first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism — a rarely used statute — as well as second-degree murder and several illegal gun possession charges.

Migrant arrested after woman set ablaze in subway attack

A migrant man allegedly burned a sleeping woman to death in a Brooklyn subway horror – and then sat calmly nearby as she was consumed by the flames, according to cops and chilling video from the scene. 

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, who hails from Guatemala, was indicted on first- and second-degree murder and one count of arson in connection to the shocking Dec. 22 killing of Debrina Kawam, 61, aboard an F train at Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. 

Kawam is known to be homeless but originally hails from New Jersey.

The shocking murder prompted the Guardian Angels red-beret-wearing volunteer vigilante squad to beef up patrols of the city’s subway system.