On a Sunday evening in the Bronx, 21-year-old Jayden Goodridge was walking with a friend at the intersection of East 149th Street and Jackson Avenue in the Mott Haven neighborhood when tragedy struck. On November 13, 2022, two individuals on a moped, whom the police believe to be the suspects, rode by and opened fire. Goodridge was struck in the stomach, while his 21-year-old friend suffered a graze wound.
Emergency services rushed Goodridge to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his
injuries and was pronounced dead the following day. Investigators with the New York Police Department have stated their belief that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and that Goodridge and his friend were not the intended targets. They believe the assailants may have mistaken them for rival gang members.
A graduate of Archbishop Stepinac High School, Jayden Goodridge was a former basketball player known for his positive presence. His death prompted an outpouring of grief from his family, friends, and former coaches, who remembered him as a caring and spirited young man. Community members and anti-violence activists gathered at the scene of the shooting to call for an end to gun violence.
In the wake of the shooting, the NYPD released surveillance video showing the two suspects on the moped. Despite the circulation of this footage and appeals to the public for information, no arrests have been made in the case. The investigation into the death of Jayden Goodridge remains ongoing as his family continues to seek justice.
