By Gus Saltonstall
Two people were shot Sunday night within an Upper West Side convenience store, a police spokesperson confirmed to West Side Rag.
The shooting took place around 7:45 p.m. inside the 653 Amsterdam Convenience store on Amsterdam Avenue, between West 91st and 92nd streets, police said.
Two males, between the ages of 16 and 20, were shot after an unknown altercation broke out within the Upper West Side store, police said. One of the victims was shot in the hip, while the other was hit in the stomach, NYPD added.
They were both transferred to a nearby hospital in stable condition, police said.
There have been no arrests, and it remains unclear what led up to the shooting, police said.
In 2024, the 24th Precinct had four shootings, down from the six that occurred in the Upper West Side precinct in 2023, police data shows.
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oh wonderful /s
Convenience store? Is that what they’re calling them now?
Then at 2am, the bodega at 103 and Amsterdam, aka drug dealer corner, was shot up. Retaliation?
nothing good ever happens at that bodega on W103/Amsterdam next to ARCO.
Constantly seedy characters going in and out, drinking on the corner day times, and forget it at night!
Too many guns on the street. Not enough enforcement. Too many perpetrators allowed to walk free.
I don’t care what your life story is. If you commit a crime you should be held accountable.
I love my City but it’s becoming a cesspool. I resent feeling unsafe and nervous everytime I leave my home. Nothing will stop me, I ride the subways and will always defend My City but the crime, homelessness and mental health issues are out of control. Sorry but I have rights too. It’s getting tiresome and old that nothing seems to be working to improve our streets. We cannot allow the patients to run the asylum.
What was the yearly murder total in NY in 1990?
Well, not having Adams as mayor would be better. Did you vote for him?
Well then try something new – don’t vote BLUE. Try RED for a change.
Political parties are not religious idols. No need to be loyal to a party that isn’t working for us.
Crime is not the only issue, especially since the GOP put forth a criminal for President. I am not going to trade my womb for a Republican for Mayor. The laws that put criminals back on the streets are made in Albany, not City Hall. Knowing how government works will help, for starters. There are plenty of law and order Democrats, but everyone needs to overturn the “bail reform” failure, the “raise the age” failure, and all of it. It was the City Council that ordered the police to back off quality of life enforcement, which led to the downward spiral of the City. That was as far back as 2013. The electric bike introduction also contributes to crime. If we can get license plates as mandatory for these getaway vehicles, that will be a start. Also, bring back bail and make sure folks are held accountable for their crimes. Bring back significant prison terms, too. Lower the age of culpability. Being a teenager is not an excuse for committing crime. By the way red states with lax gun laws and bad education contributes to higher crime rates.
Republicans in NYC keep putting forth terrible candidates with shady backgrounds.
Mayor Silwa? Gimme a break.
That’s why you lose elections.
Adams is a republican.
No, he isn’t.
Sam,
He was for decades. His policies are [incompetent] republican.
No, I don’t mean he’s a rightwing Democrat like Jefferies.
Is this a convenience store (I.e. – bodega), or a pot shop?
Ella,
It’s a neighborhood deli run by a a couple of really nice Yemeni guys. I have been coming there for years. They are always courteous and make great sandwiches-and maybe most importantly never run out of Diet Coke. They also do not have control of the rare gang banger coming into their store with a loaded gun. If commentators above are looking for someone to blame, set your sights on politicians who consistently block any kind of meaningful gun control legislation.
Uh, if no one told you, it so happens that you live in a city with some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. The politicians you can vote for besides the President are all staunch gun control advocates.
what a wonderful progressive and globalist UWS answer
The guys who own it are great. It draws an unsavory crowd. I always admire them for trying to keep the drama to a minimum. I want to support them and their their business but often do not feel very safe there.
I am strongly opposed to guns. And I want more legislation against guns. But I’m not sure what the answer is. Guns are unfortunately too widely circulated, so preventing them is impossible. I definitely am not suggesting we give up. But I wish we could better put the cat back in the door.
yes, too widely circulated, like water.
“In 2017, there was estimated to be near 400 million guns in the United States between police, the military, and American civilians. Over 393 Million (Over 98%) of those guns are in civilian hands, the equivalent of 120 firearms per 100 citizens.”
and now, in 2025, far more.
Thank you for standing up for workers in a completely legal store who try to make a living by doing their jobs with good nature and grace
Please stop the crime.
In 1990 there were 2.262 murders in NYC
In 2024 there were 377.
This is the bodega on the East side of the street, next to the dentist office and veterinary clinic, right? The guys who run that place are so nice.
I’m going to get a lot of push back for this comment, but I have noticed that reading hyper local news tends to create feelings of living in an unsafe environment.
It also tends to bring out the worst in people in the comments sections. Racism, sarcasm, NIMBY-ism all flourish in the comments sections of hyper local news websites.
I’m by no means saying this particular publication has a problem with it. The comments here are moderated and keep the bad words out. But the overall sentiment of most comments is that of generalized negativity and anything that shines a light on the aspects that makes us bad, not good. This is not to deny that the Upper West Side has it’s problems. Rather, I’m trying to elucidate that most of what we comment about makes us all look smaller, reactionary and otherist (I just made up that word) instead of observant agents of ideas that serve the community with inclusivity and makes us look better than what I know we are.
@ J. L. Rivers: Your point is valid. Those of us who were here in the 70s and 80s remember when there actually was a lot of violent crime in the city. What we’re seeing now, while definitely an uptick from several years ago, is nothing compared to the bad old days. The difference: in 1982, that bodega shooting would have gotten a few column inches on page 5 of the Daily News and 30 seconds on the 11:00 news. If you missed them, you would never have known about it. Now, it’s on every local blog and news outlet and it doesn’t take a whole lot of scrolling to see it day after day after day.
is this sarcasm?
Great post. You solved hyper-local crime with one swift bout of inclusivity. Kumbaya!
Don’t read the news or comments. Walk around and blissfully feel safe and positive, all you want. Literally no one is stopping you (other than criminals, potentially, but you can elucidate to them what will makes them better).
Hi Peter,
Thank you for being exhibit A on my case.
Best,
As opposed to the opposite? Walking around fearing for your life? If that is your choice, more power to ya.
In response, here are the things I am seeing:
1. Rampant fare evasion.
2. Merchandise locked up in stores.
3. Gangs of 3-wheelers and mini-motorcycles blocking the streets as they ride through,.
4. Delivery men on electric bikes almost plowing down people.
5.Anti-social behavior on the subway that was rarely seen 10 years ago,
To be fair these are the things I have read about:
1. Women being set ablaze on subway. (Major news story )
2. A Women in Queens was beaten so badly she lost her sight in one eye.
I am sure I have left many out.
My point being is things have definetly changed for the worse, and I do not think it is due to the
factors you state in your argument.
Hi Opoe,
Thanks for providing exhibit B on my case. Peter (from above this comment) and you are on the same page.
“5.Anti-social behavior on the subway that was rarely seen 10 years ago,”
Such as?
I think it’s a combination of hyper-local news and the constant flow of information. When you’re fed a constant stream of minute-by-minute updates about every incident that happens, it feels like crime is much more prevalent than it actually is. Maybe ignorance (or at least delayed awareness) really is bliss.
A woman set on fire in the subways is news, partly because it is (thank whatever god there be) unusual. It is also information. Subways are definitely worse since as a rebellious teen I used to sleep on the 15 cent motel. Nobody ever bothered me.
Exactly! Imagine in 1980 finding out about every crime as it happens. Perspective people,
We got there regularly for ice cream and milk and the guys are lovely, helpful, and fun. We love the store!!
@J. L. Rivers Thank you for so eloquently stating what is missed by the hysterics. Hyper local news apps fuel the hysteria and offer little value aside from fear mongering. Fact is, you’ve got a better chance of winning lotto than being murdered on the uws, but sadly, these folks don’t see that and live in fear. Not diminishing any crime whatsoever, and any crime is too much, but we’re all pretty safe here. Finally, perception is everything, and if folks don’t feel safe, that’s not good. Peace.
There were 386 murders last year in this city of eight million. That comes to about 1 murder per twenty thousand New Yorkers n 2023. But over a period of decades living in the City, the chances of being murdered increase considerably. And of course there are many serious crimes that fall short of murder such as assault, rape and robbery. I would say over a lifetime you or a family member has a very good chance of falling victim. It is not at all like the odds of winning the lottery.
That’s some way to live your life….
There were shots fired at 103rd and Amsterdam not long after. Don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to know the odds of both events being connected.
Ge rid of all these pot and smoke shops. They just bring crime.
No, they don’t.