Bronx Resident Charged in Fatal Shooting of 12-Year-Old

A 45-year-old Bronx man has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, who was struck by gunfire while outside a Mount Eden bodega on Saturday evening.

According to the NYPD, the incident took place shortly before 5 p.m. on Elliot Place. Surveillance footage released by the United Bodegas of America depicts a physical confrontation involving several individuals outside the storefront. During the scuffle, an unidentified person allegedly drew a firearm and discharged multiple rounds into the crowd. Freytes, who had been riding a bicycle, attempted to retreat into the bodega after the shooting began but was struck in the chest. He was transported to Lincoln Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Two additional men, aged 25 and 34, were also wounded during the exchange. Both individuals remain in stable condition, according to police statements.

On Sunday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that detectives had apprehended William Ferrer, 45, at his residence. Ferrer faces a series of serious charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Information regarding legal representation for the defendant was not immediately available.

City officials have responded to the tragedy with calls for increased safety. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the loss of the young victim as "unimaginable" in a statement posted to social media, emphasizing that children should be able to navigate their neighborhoods without the threat of violence.

Following the shooting, representatives from the United Bodegas of America held a press conference at the scene. Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the organization, urged city and state leadership to implement stricter penalties for the possession of illegal firearms, citing the incident as part of a broader concern regarding public safety.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains active, according to the NYPD.