According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in 2022, an estimated 3 million civilians used the New York City subway system on a daily basis. In April 2022, a 63-year-old male opened fire at the New Utrecht stop in Brooklyn, shooting 10 individuals and creating chaos, fear and confusion among countless commuters. Fortunately, there were no deaths, and the suspect was apprehended and charged with a firearms offense and 10 counts of terrorist attack.
In this case study, Andries discusses the facts of the case, and highlights the vulnerability of public spaces and densely populated regions to potentially devastating results arising from mass shooting events. Additionally, the case study raises the awareness for the need for heightened surveillance of community spaces to ensure increased safety and security, as well as for measures to address psychological trauma in the aftermath of such incidents.