Danger in Brownsville

A look at the neighborhood’s crime epidemic.

Brownsville Deadliest Neighborhood in New York - In 2012, Brooklyn had the highest murder rate in New York City, accounting for 39 percent of the city’s murders. Most of those deaths occurred in Brownsville. With the recent shooting death of 1-year-old Antiq Hennis in the neighborhood, BET.com takes a look at one of the most violent neighborhoods in the nation. – Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Brownsville Deadliest Neighborhood in New York - In 2012, Brooklyn had the highest murder rate in New York City, accounting for 39 percent of the city’s murders. Most of those deaths occurred in Brownsville. With the recent shooting death of 1-year-old Antiq Hennis in the neighborhood, BET.com takes a look at one of the most violent neighborhoods in the nation. – Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Another Innocent Child Killed - Struck by a bullet to the head that reportedly was intended for his father, Antiq Hennis, 1, died Sunday in Brownsville, Brooklyn, just blocks away from his home. Although Antiq’s death marked yet another gun-related death in the neighborhood, as of Aug. 25 killings were down 26 percent in New York, according to the mayor’s office.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Another Innocent Child Killed - Struck by a bullet to the head that reportedly was intended for his father, Antiq Hennis, 1, died Sunday in Brownsville, Brooklyn, just blocks away from his home. Although Antiq’s death marked yet another gun-related death in the neighborhood, as of Aug. 25 killings were down 26 percent in New York, according to the mayor’s office.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

About Brownsville - Located in East Brooklyn, Brownsville spans less than 2 miles. Brownsville resides in Brooklyn District 16, which had a population of 86,468 in 2010. More than 80 percent of the district’s residents identify as Black or African-American.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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About Brownsville - Located in East Brooklyn, Brownsville spans less than 2 miles. Brownsville resides in Brooklyn District 16, which had a population of 86,468 in 2010. More than 80 percent of the district’s residents identify as Black or African-American.  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

What Can Be Done? - While one cannot overturn poverty and erase gangs overnight, advocates for gun control believe that by making it harder for people to get guns, violence will go down. There are also organizations throughout the country that specialize in mediating conflict between gang members.The Interrupters highlighted one of those organizations, Chicago-based CeaseFire. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

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Leading Crime Rates - In 2010, Brownsville’s 73rd Police Department logged 28 murders, a 33 percent increase from 2009, according to a DNA Info Crime and Safety Report. In 2012, more than 160 of the city’s 419 murders took place in Brooklyn alone, almost half occurred in Brownsville or East New York.(Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

Race in America - "We've made lots of progress. I sit here as the first African-American attorney general, serving the first African-American president of the United States. And that has to show that we have made a great deal of progress," Holder said. "But there's still more we have to travel along this road so we get to a place that is consistent with our founding ideals." (Photo: Casarsa/Getty Images)

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How Do Crime Rates Affect African-Americans - African-Americans, who represent 25 percent of New York City’s population, made up 64 percent of the murder victims and 71 percent of the shooting victims in 2012.(Photo: Casarsa/Getty Images)

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Can Demographics Influence Crime? - Dominated by 18 NYCHA public housing developments, the poverty level in Brownsville is one of the highest in New York City, with 48 percent of people receiving income support or some form of public assistance.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Can Demographics Influence Crime? - Dominated by 18 NYCHA public housing developments, the poverty level in Brownsville is one of the highest in New York City, with 48 percent of people receiving income support or some form of public assistance.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Did the Laws Work By Curbing Any Fraud? - The absence of massive problems might mean the laws worked as intended, or it might mean nothing at all. Primary voters often are fully engaged in the political process, and their numbers are relatively small compared with general elections. The laws could have a different effect in November, when larger numbers of people could show up at polls without ID. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Gang Violence - Caught in gang crossfire, Zurana Horton, 34, was shot to death while trying to shield her children in October 2011 when a gunman on a Pitkin Avenue rooftop shot at a group of rivals on a crowded street. In 2012, the NYPD arrested 43 members from two rival gangs, which were responsible for six homicides and 32 shootings.  (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

USPS Worker - As civil servants are not allowed to receive cash tips, a non-cash option of about $20 or less is appropriate, such as a gift card to a coffee shop. Even better, Gifts.com suggests sending a glowing letter to the worker’s supervisor, which could in effect mean more than a gift itself. (Photo: Doug Finger/Staff Photographer/Gainesville Sun /Landov)

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Terror in Your Own Backyard - Because of the high crime rates, many postal workers are afraid to enter public housing facilities. Several residents receive their mail deliveries late or have to go to the post office to retrieve packages.(Photo: Doug Finger/Staff Photographer Gainesville Sun/Landov)

How to Counteract Violence - A.T. Mitchell has been on both sides of the gun. Mitchell, a 40-year Brownsville resident, helped found Man Up, Inc., a non-profit agency that offers healthy alternatives to teens who are susceptible to violence, in 2003. “Our idea is to get to them before they pull the trigger,” Mitchell told BET.com.(Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

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How to Counteract Violence - A.T. Mitchell has been on both sides of the gun. Mitchell, a 40-year Brownsville resident, helped found Man Up, Inc., a non-profit agency that offers healthy alternatives to teens who are susceptible to violence, in 2003. “Our idea is to get to them before they pull the trigger,” Mitchell told BET.com.(Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

One: Student School Counseling - Thirty–eight percent of Blacks are likely to have this major and it is the most likely major amongst African-Americans. Students with this degree are more likely as graduates to obtain a higher degree.

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Community Organizations Offer Support - For 10 years, Mitchell has declared a war on violence with Man Up. In conjunction with Not Another Child, the organization provides up to 1,500 Brownsville and East New York youngsters with gun violence counseling, job core development, afterschool and athletic programs in attempts to distract kids from leading violent lifestyles. For more information, visit here.(Photo: Matthew Staver /Landov)