On the evening of January 19, 2023, 15-year-old Josue Lopez-Ortega, a Hispanic male, was leaving a basketball game with a friend at the Police Athletic League's New South Bronx Center on Longwood Avenue. As they exited the building, an assailant approached them and fired multiple shots. Josue was struck in the head, and his 16-year-old companion was wounded in the leg.
Emergency services transported both teenagers to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, where Josue was initially listed in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. His friend was treated and survived.
The New York Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. An unidentified individual was seen fleeing the scene in a gray Jeep Renegade. Community members mourned the loss of the young man, who was remembered as a happy and kind-hearted individual. In a testament to his character and his family's generosity, Josue's organs were donated, saving the lives of seven people ranging in age from 8 months to 68 years.
Nearly seven months later, in July 2023, authorities made an arrest in the case. Jamir Scarboro, a 20-year-old, was located and apprehended in North Carolina. He was extradited back to New York to face charges for the murder of Josue Lopez-Ortega. The charges brought against him included murder, manslaughter, and weapons possession. The arrest brought a measure of justice to a community that had been deeply affected by the senseless act of violence.
