The NYPD is intensifying their search for a 12-year-old boy believed to be involved in the deadly shooting of 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey. The egregious incident, which left a community devastated, transpired on Monday after 5 p.m. near The Bronx Latin School in the Morrisania neighborhood. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots ring out as rival teen gang members argued and fought in the vicinity. During the melee, Jeffrey, who was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire, was hit in the head.
Police arrested a 14-year-old boy who is said to be the shooter who killed Jeffrey as she rode her scooter. The suspect, whose name has not been released due to his age, faces charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was taken into custody by the NY U.S. Marshals and NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
According to law enforcement sources, the suspect was apprehended while attempting to get into a taxi on Tuesday morning. Surveillance footage captured the suspect involved in a fistfight earlier in the day, which police believe may have escalated to the shooting.
However, the search continues for a 12-year-old boy who allegedly ran off with the firearm after the incident. Police have not recovered the weapon, and efforts are ongoing to locate both the accomplice and the gun.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the chaotic scene:
“When the shots are fired, who we believe to be an unintended target is struck and she immediately falls to the ground with a gunshot wound to the head as the other children run away for their lives.”
Jeffrey, a student at nearby Morris Academy, was rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Speaking on the tragedy, Jeffrey’s grandmother expressed her deep pain: “They can say ‘I’m sorry’ a million times, I don’t care. I will never forgive any of you.” One of Jeffrey’s aunts urged young people to reconsider their actions: “Stop killing each other. Innocent kids are dying. It’s not right.”
On Tuesday evening, friends, family, and community members gathered outside The Bronx Latin School to hold a vigil in Jeffrey’s memory. Candles, flowers, and handwritten notes were left at the site to honor her life. Family members spoke of her constant smile, dedication to her studies, and her goal to help others as a medical professional.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed that the teenage suspect has a history of run-ins with the law. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of the 12-year-old to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.
