Erica Byfield is an Emmy® Award-winning reporter for NBC 4 New York, appearing weekdays in the evening newscasts.
Byfield’s reporting was a key component of NBC 4 New York’s award-winning COVID-19 coverage, honored in January, 2021 with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for “creat(ing) a 360 view in real time of the coronavirus pandemic, with courageous and thorough reporting on the virus’s explosion in New York City.” The duPont has long been recognized as the broadcast, documentary and on-line equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, also awarded by Columbia University.
Additionally, Byfield’s reporting was an important contributor to a second prestigious station honor. Her work during the deadly December 2019 Jersey City shootout was recognized by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), which awarded NBC 4 New York the 2020 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Top Television Newscast.
Byfield’s commitment to journalistic excellence has been recognized with three regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for investigative reporting and team coverage of the 2017 Tribeca terrorist attack. This coverage was also recognized with two New York Emmys®. Byfield was awarded a New York Emmy® as part of NBC 4 New York’s team coverage of the 2016 Chelsea bombing investigation. She was also named an IRE medal finalist.
Prior to joining NBC 4 New York in 2016, Byfield spent six years with WSB-TV in Atlanta where she served as an investigative reporter. She joined WSB-TV following service at CBS affiliate KMOV-TV, where she won a Mid America Emmy for her coverage of local crime. Byfield also spent two years as a general assignment reporter with KFVS-TV in Southwest Missouri.
Byfield obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from New York University. She also earned another master's degree in communications and leadership from Gonzaga University. Byfield received a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri - Columbia. While on campus she worked at KOMU as a reporter and fill-in anchor.
An active runner, Byfield has completed two New York City Marathons. She also loves to travel and speaks fluent Spanish.
Byfield is married and lives with her family in Manhattan.
The Latest
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Man sentenced for killing teen who rejected his advances at party in vacant Brooklyn home
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NYC schools still not ready for remote learning after snow day meltdown
NYC’s remote day basically turned into a de facto snow day after many students who couldn’t login to their virtual classrooms gave up and opted to sled instead during the Feb. 13 storm.
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Drones to fly rest of summer over NYC beaches after serious shark bite, first in decades
Police and fire officials were along the shore and flying drones above the water as they kept an eye out for sharks in the area of Rockaway Beach that had been closed after a woman was believed to have been bitten in a very rare instance of a NYC encounter.
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Woman indicted for NYC juice bar worker stabbing after allegedly given free drink
A worker at a Manhattan juice shop was badly injured in a brutal knife attack from a woman who stabbed him after not having enough money to pay her her drink, police said, even though he offered to give it to her for free.
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NYC Mom of Dead 6-Year-Old Charged With Endangering 2 Other Kids as Autopsy Pends
The Bronx woman whose 6-year-old daughter was found dead in the family’s 12th-floor apartment two days ago has been charged with endangering her other children, News 4 has learned, as autopsy results on the girl still pend. Lynija Eason initially had been brought in for questioning in the death of her daughter, Jalayah, whom she called 911 to report was…
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NYC War on Rats: Can 4 New Rodent Laws Fix the Crisis?
The New York City Council is embracing a new strategy in an effort to rid the city of its rat problem — and it could change the way residents toss away their trash.
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Man Arrested in Shooting Death of 17-Year-Old Queens Girl in Vacant Brooklyn Apartment
A suspect believed to be responsible for the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl inside a vacant apartment of a sprawling Brooklyn complex has been arrested, according to police.
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NYPD Releases Harlem Fight Body Cam After Video of Woman Hit by Cop Stokes Outcry
The NYPD has released body camera footage of an officer’s encounter with a woman in Harlem amid questions over cellphone video that showed a cop’s blow knock a 19-year-old woman to the sidewalk. Tensions escalated Wednesday. Now the Manhattan district attorney’s response is fanning flames anew. The altercation in question played out Tuesday as cops said officers were trying...
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Two Teens Indicted on Murder Charges in NYC Shooting Death of 11-Year-Old Girl
The two teen suspects accused in the deadly shooting of an 11-year-old girl in the Bronx were indicted on murder charges, the district attorney said.
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Gas Can Arsonist Who Turned Popular Brooklyn LGBTQ+ Bar Into Fireball Nabbed: Mayor
A Brooklyn bar that was quickly becoming a mainstay for the LGBTQ+ community after being in business for just a few months is now closed after police said someone used a canister of gasoline to set it on fire.
