Friday morning, a 14 year old boy was shot and killed in the Bronx after a possibly gang-related dispute.
According to authorities, the shootings occurred at approximately 8:30 in the morning at the intersection of Sheridan Avenue and East 167th Street, in Bronx’s Highbridge section. This area has been designated a New York Police Department Impact zone, where police officers intensify their presence as a result of known gang-related activity.
Law enforcement officers declined to reveal the identity of the victim. They did, however, explain that the shooting occurred as the boy was walking to school and that the victim had been arrested five times before. The fatal shooting followed a verbal confrontation with two men.
Witnesses told authorities that the boy got into an argument with the two shooters. After hearing several consecutive gunshots, one witness said, people began to frantically scream “Call the cops, call the cops!”
By that time, the boy was already on the sidewalk surrounded by half a dozen of bystanders.
It is yet unclear whether the victim and the two suspects knew each other prior to Friday’s incidents.
The 14 year old boy suffered four gunshot wounds, three in the abdomen and one shot to the head. Both suspects fled the scene soon after the shootings.
Despite the fact that emergency medical teams were immediately called in, the boy was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has not been notified yet.
Authorities began canvassing the area for evidence and questioning witnesses. In the meantime, the body remained there.
“These streets are getting worse and worse and worse. He should have been in school,” one witness said.
One suspect was apprehended by authorities and is currently being questioned.
Fearing that the shooting may have been gang related, authorities are still attempting to understand what prompted the argument that led to the shooting.
Image Source: niemanlab

