Forest Hills isn't usually the kind of place where you expect to see yellow tape fluttering between Tudor-style houses. It’s quiet. It’s "suburbia in the city." But lately, the phrase shooting in Forest Hills NY has been popping up in local group chats and news alerts, and it’s got people looking over their shoulders on Austin Street more than they used to.
Honestly, the neighborhood is still one of the safest pockets in Queens, but a few high-profile incidents have pierced that "Forest Hills bubble." You've got long-time residents who remember the "Son of Sam" days in the 70s, and then you've got the new families who moved here for the low crime rates and the LIRR commute, now wondering if the peace is slipping.
The Reality of Recent Violence
The most jarring incident that still feels fresh happened just this past September. On a Sunday night—Sept. 28, 2025, to be exact—a 19-year-old named Jean Rios was found shot in the chest near 64th Road and the Grand Central Parkway.
It was 7:40 p.m. People were probably finishing dinner or getting ready for the work week. Police from the 112th Precinct showed up to find Rios unconscious on the pavement. He didn't make it.
Witnesses described a guy in all red speeding away on a moped, while two other men vanished on foot. It wasn't a random stray bullet or a crossfire situation; it felt targeted, and it happened right on the edge of the neighborhood near Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
For a precinct that reported zero murders for the same period the year before, this was a 100% spike that nobody wanted to see.
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Why the 112th Precinct is Frustrated
The 112th Precinct covers Forest Hills and Rego Park. Usually, their biggest headaches are "porch pirates" or someone’s rims getting swiped off their Honda.
But 2025 was weird. Aside from the Rios case, there was a heavy focus on illegal firearms. Just this January, a guy from nearby Kew Gardens named Charles Foehner was sentenced to four years. Why? Because while he wasn't charged for a fatal shooting involving a would-be robber back in 2023, the cops found a straight-up arsenal in his place: 26 guns and 13,000 rounds of ammo.
When that kind of heat is sitting in an apartment building just blocks away, the whole "quiet neighborhood" vibe starts to feel a bit fragile.
The Ghosts of Forest Hills History
You can’t talk about a shooting in Forest Hills NY without acknowledging the historical weight the neighborhood carries. It’s a place that has seen some of New York’s most infamous crimes, which makes every new siren sound a little bit louder.
- Station Square and the Son of Sam: In January 1977, David Berkowitz shot Christine Freund and John Diel while they sat in a car in the picturesque Station Square. It’s one of the most beautiful spots in New York, and it became a crime scene that changed the city forever.
- The Delivery Worker Tragedy: More recently, in 2022, Zhiwen Yan, a beloved Great Wall delivery worker, was gunned down while on his scooter. That one hit the community hard. It was over a "duck sauce" dispute—something so trivial it made the violence feel even more senseless.
- The Orsolya Gaal Case: While not a shooting, the 2022 murder of Orsolya Gaal (who was found in a hockey bag) still haunts the "Gardens" section of Forest Hills.
Is Forest Hills Still Safe?
If you look at the raw data from the Brennan Center or the NYPD CompStat reports, the answer is basically "yes."
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The violent crime rate in Forest Hills is about 1.8 per 1,000 residents. Compare that to the citywide average of 5.5, and you realize you're still in one of the safest zip codes in the five boroughs.
Most "crime" here is property-related. Think grand larceny or car break-ins. But for the people living near 108th Street or the Grand Central Parkway, the statistics don't matter as much as the fact that someone was shot a few blocks from their front door.
Domestic violence also accounts for a massive chunk of Queens' felony assaults—nearly 40%. These aren't random attacks on strangers; they're tragic, private escalations that spill out into the streets. Take the case of Dashanna Donovan, who was killed in nearby East Elmhurst by an ex who tracked her all the way from South Carolina. These are the "calculated" crimes that District Attorney Melinda Katz has been vocal about prosecuting.
The Moped Factor
One thing you'll hear residents complain about at community board meetings isn't just "crime" in the abstract—it's the mopeds.
The getaway vehicle in the Jean Rios shooting was a moped. These things are everywhere now, often unregistered, and they allow suspects to weave through traffic and disappear into the parks where patrol cars can't follow easily. It’s a specific tactical problem the NYPD is trying to get a handle on, but it's tough when the neighborhood is bordered by major highways and massive green spaces.
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Actionable Steps for Staying Safe
Look, you don't need to live in fear, but you also shouldn't live in a bubble. Even in "safe" neighborhoods, situational awareness is your best friend.
- Join the Precinct Council: The 112th Precinct has monthly meetings. If you want to know what’s actually happening—not just what people are yelling about on Nextdoor—go to the source.
- The 71st Ave/Queens Blvd Corridor: This is the busiest part of the neighborhood. It stays active late into the night. If you’re walking home from the E/F train at 2 a.m., stick to the well-lit paths on Austin Street rather than cutting through the darker residential side streets if you’re alone.
- Secure Your Perimeter: A lot of recent Queens "arsenal" busts or break-ins were flagged because of Ring cameras. High-quality video doesn't just help catch people; it acts as a deterrent for the "crime of opportunity" crowd.
- Watch the Parkway Edges: Areas near the Grand Central Parkway and Flushing Meadows tend to be more isolated. If you’re jogging or walking the dog, try to do it during peak hours or stay on the more populated residential blocks.
Forest Hills is still the "suburb in the city" that people love. It has the trees, the schools, and the Tudor homes. But the recent shooting in Forest Hills NY serves as a reminder that no neighborhood is totally immune to the city's larger trends.
The community remains resilient, but they're definitely keeping their eyes open. If you see something that looks off—especially near the transit hubs or the parkway—don't hesitate to call it in. The 112th depends on that local intel more than ever.
Next Steps: You can track the latest 112th Precinct CompStat reports on the NYPD's official website or attend the next Community Board 6 meeting to hear updates on local safety initiatives and moped enforcement.