70 Guns Turned in at Wakefield Gun Buyback Event Honoring Brandon Hendricks

A successful gun buyback event was held in the Wakefield section of the Bronx on December 18, 2021, organized as part of the “A Mother’5 Promi5e” program, founded by Eve Hendricks in honor of her son, Brandon Hendricks, a rising basketball star who was tragically shot and killed in June 2020. The event, which offered the highest dollar amount per gun to date in New York City, resulted in 70 guns being taken off the streets. The initiative aims to create safer communities and break cycles of violence through mentorship and guidance for youth and families. The gun buyback event was organized in partnership with the Oyate Group, the Bronx Rising Initiative, and other local organizations. The initiative has also been providing scholarships to high school seniors in Brandon’s name. The Bronx Rising Initiative plans to hold more gun buyback events in the future to help reduce gun violence and protect young people. As of December 26, 2021, the Bronx had experienced an increase in shootings and shooting victims compared to the previous year, according to NYPD data. The accused shooter of Brandon Hendricks, Najhim Luke, has been charged with second-degree murder and additional charges, with his case pending in court.