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President Biden To Meet With Mayor Adams In New York City About Gun Violence Prevention

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- President Joe Biden will meet with Mayor Eric Adams next week in New York City to discuss the gun violence that's plaguing the city, a spokesperson for the mayor's office said.

A statement from the White House said the president will travel to the city on Feb. 3. The conversation will include funding for more officers and investments in community violence intervention programs, as well as federal efforts to stop traffickers.

"I look forward to welcoming President Biden to New York City next week and sitting down to discuss how we can work collaboratively to end the scourge of gun violence we are seeing on New York City streets," Adams said in a statement, adding, "The sea of violence comes from many rivers, and that's why my Blueprint to End Gun Violence in New York City seeks to dam every river that feeds this greater crisis. Public safety is my administration's highest priority, and we welcome the opportunity to display to President Biden how federal and local governments can coordinate and support each other in this fight to keep New Yorkers safe."

Watch: Gov. Hochul, Mayor Adams Discuss New Interstate Task Force On Illegal Guns

The gun used to kill NYPD Officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora late last week was illegal, and on Wednesday Gov. Kathy Hochul convened a first-of-its-kind task force to tackle the tracking of illegal guns.

This as authorities announced the arrest of a college student, accused of smuggling dozens of guns into the state with the intention to sell them, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.

A 23-year-old was indicted by the Bronx district attorney on Wednesday for selling 73 guns, 59 of them loaded, and over 40 high-capacity magazines to an undercover cop for up to $1,500 each. The weapons were allegedly transported in a duffle bag from the South, sometimes by bus.

READ MORENYPD: Keber Martinez Arrested In Jacobi Hospital Shooting

The indictment was announced as Hochul was meeting with 50 law enforcement experts from nine Northeast states to seek ways to stop the flow of illegal guns into New York. The case is a prime example of what the governor is trying to stop as gun violence surges.

"Eighty percent increase in firearm homicides here in the state of New York since 2019. Seventy-five percent of the guns committing those crimes came from out of state," Hochul said.

Mission one is finding out why so many illegal guns end up here.

"Do people have more money? Is something going on in those states? Are people looking to have the flow of guns come to New York to make a higher profit? Is this related to gang activity? Is it related to more domestic cases?" Hochul said.

READ MORENYC Mourning NYPD Officers Wilbert Mora, Jason Rivera After Deadly Ambush In Harlem

The NYPD sent representatives to the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns meeting while Mayor Adams participated virtually. He insisted that the federal, state and city cooperation used in the war on terror after 9/11 has to be employed again in the war on illegal weapons.

"It is time for us to use the same abilities that we displayed during Sept. 11 to stop an external terrorist threat. We're going to use that with the terror of gun violence that's sweeping our entire nation," Adams said.

READ MOREMayor Eric Adams' Plan To Address Gun Violence Includes Return Of Plainclothes Police Unit

As part of his blueprint for ending gun violence, the mayor has called for changes to the bail reform laws. But he may not have the support of Hochul, who defended the law passed by the Legislature.

"I stand behind that fundamental premise," Hochul said.

The governor said she hoped the task force would move quickly to come up with solutions.

Meanwhile, the war on guns got a new ally. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has come under fire for lenient crime policies, named the first ever executive assistant DA for gun violence prevention.

CBS2's Elijah Westbrook contributed to this report.

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