On a tragic Monday evening in the Bronx, 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey's life was cut short by a senseless act of violence. On May 12, 2025, while riding her scooter near the Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School, a stray bullet struck her in the head. She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Jeffrey, who was a student at the nearby Morris High School, was an unintended victim of a dispute that had erupted between two rival gangs.
The events leading to
the fatal shooting began with a fight among a group of teenagers. During the altercation, a 14-year-old boy was reportedly handed a gun by a 13-year-old. The 14-year-old is said to have fired three shots into the crowd. One of these bullets tragically found Evette Jeffrey, who was attempting to take cover behind a brick wall. Her family remembers her as a bright and kind individual who dreamed of becoming a nurse.
In the days that followed, the New York Police Department launched an intensive investigation. The 14-year-old alleged shooter was apprehended by the NYPD's Fugitive Task Force and U.S. Marshals while trying to flee in a taxi. He was subsequently charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. A second arrest was made when a 13-year-old was taken into custody, accused of providing the firearm used in the shooting. He faces a litany of charges, including two counts of murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon. Due to their ages, the names of the suspects have not been publicly released, and it is anticipated they will be tried as juveniles.
