On the morning of May 22, 2015, 14-year-old Christopher Duran was shot and killed in the Bronx, New York. The male teenager was on his way to school with his younger brother at approximately 8:30 a.m. when he was fatally shot near his home on Sheridan Avenue in the Concourse Village neighborhood. An argument reportedly took place just before the shooting. Christopher was shot multiple times, including once in the head and three times in the torso.
His younger brother, who witnessed the attack, ran home to alert their mother.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to two individuals. The New York Police Department identified Travis Bloch, 25, and Jeremiah Thomas, 16, also known as 'Jay,' as suspects. Surveillance footage captured images of the suspects fleeing the scene. One of the suspects was described as wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt with dark sleeves, blue jeans, and a red bandana covering his face, while the other was described as a Black or dark-skinned Hispanic male wearing all black. Law enforcement sources indicated the shooting was likely gang-related, possibly as revenge for something involving Christopher's older brother, who was allegedly a member of a local gang. However, Christopher's family disputed any claims of his involvement in gangs. Police acknowledged that while Christopher had a troubled past with multiple arrests, it was unclear if he was the intended target.
Travis Bloch was apprehended in Binghamton and taken into custody. During his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court, he was charged with second-degree murder and other offenses. Upon hearing that he could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted, Bloch fainted in the courtroom. He was held without bail. In 2018, Travis Bloch, then 31, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. His co-defendant, Jeremiah Thomas, also pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
