A 12-year-old boy, Jacob Freytes, was fatally shot while riding his bicycle outside a Bronx bodega in the Mt. Eden neighborhood. Two adult men were also wounded and are expected to survive. Detectives arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer, who faces multiple charges including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Officials said Jacob did not appear to be the intended target and urged the public to share tips with NYPD Crime Stoppers.
12-Year-Old Fatally Shot Outside Bronx Bodega; Suspect Arrested
Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit work the scene and place down evidence markers to highlight shell casings where a 12-year-old boy was killed, and two men were injured in a shooting outside a supermarket deli in the Bronx, New York, on July 25, 2026.
A 12-year-old boy, identified as Jacob Freytes, was fatally shot while riding his bicycle outside a bodega in the Mt. Eden neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City officials said. The shooting took place just before 5 p.m. ET and left two adult men wounded.
Shooting and Victims
According to the New York Police Department, a man opened fire in broad daylight, striking Jacob and two other people. Jacob was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other victims — a 25-year-old man who was shot in the buttocks and a 34-year-old man who was shot in the foot — were also hospitalized and are expected to survive.
Arrest and Charges
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that detectives arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer, a Bronx resident, outside his home on Sunday morning in connection with the triple shooting. Ferrer faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Members of the NYPD Crime Scene Unit work the scene and place down evidence markers to highlight shell casings where a 12-year-old boy was killed, and two men were injured in a shooting outside a bodega in the Bronx, New York, on July 25, 2026.
Officials' Reactions
"Jacob was an innocent bystander on his bike when he was taken from his family yesterday in an act of senseless gun violence," Commissioner Tisch wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "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."
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson also condemned the shooting. Mamdani urged that children should be safe riding bikes in their neighborhoods, and Gibson called for better ways to address conflict to prevent such tragedies.
Investigation and Public Appeal
Photographs from the scene show investigators placing yellow evidence markers outside the bodega and a black-and-silver bicycle lying on the pavement. Police said it did not appear Jacob was the intended target. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or to submit tips online through the department's website.
Reporting Credit: Natalie Neysa Alund, senior reporter for USA TODAY, contributed to the original reporting. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
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