A Bronx neighborhood is in mourning following the shooting death of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes, a young boy seen riding his bike around the corner when a fight broke out between a group of men.
Freytes was the son of a retired NYPD detective sergeant, Jesus Freytes, and has been described by neighbors as a respectful, kind young man.
“Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare,” the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association said late Sunday. “On behalf of the men and women of the SBA, out heart go out to the Freytes family, as we pray for them during this unimaginable and painful tragedy.”
Many in the Mt. Eden neighborhood where the 12-year-old lived and was shot, were shocked to hear the boy became the latest victim of gun violence for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Freytes rode his bike along the sidewalk and stopped in front of a bodega at Elliot Place and Walton Avenue around 5 p.m. Saturday. Surveillance video shows several adults on the corner throwing punches and kicks at one another, before one of the men starts firing a gun. Police said the 12-year-old was struck, as well as two men.
Additional video showed the boy run inside the bodega for help, holding his shoulder before collapsing. He was taken to Lincoln Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The boy’s bicycle was seen lying in the middle of the crime scene as first responders tended to the injured and police conducted their investigation.
Neighbor Martha Rosa said people in the community are grieving the loss of the 12-year-old.
“Oh he was so wonderful… he respects his elders always,” she said. “It’s just unthinkable. I mean, he’s just riding his bike like any other child
Friends of the family also say the boy lived just a block away from where he was shot.
“It’s a tragedy it shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have happened. This shouldn’t have happened,” said another family friend, Jasmine Rosario. “He’s 12 years old. He was an innocent little kid. He’s not from the streets. He’s an awesome kid.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced an arrest in the case the following afternoon.
“No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, but the NYPD will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for Jacob,” Tisch said in a statement on Sunday.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani also addressed the shooting.
“Our thoughts are with the family. I know it’s a top priority for our NYPD and our administration to find out who’s responsible for this horrific act of violence. But beyond that, how to ensure that we never become numb to this kind of pain,” Mamdani said.
The commissioner said the suspect, 45-year-old William Ferrer, was arrested outside of his Bronx home on Sunday morning. He’s expected to face charges of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault and more.
Ferrer did not respond to questions from reporters as detectives led him out of the station house. He appeared at an arraignment hearing Friday evening where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.