A peaceful Saturday afternoon in the Bronx turned tragic when a 12-year-old boy was shot and killed while riding his bicycle.
The incident occurred just before 5 p.m. at the corner of Walton Avenue and Elliot Place in the Mount Eden neighborhood.
Police said the child appeared to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when a large group began an argument outside the Wanda Deli.
Investigators quickly taped off the surrounding area as they began searching for evidence near the scene of the violence.
A witness reported hearing approximately five gunshots before seeing the young boy collapse on the sidewalk.
The shooter reportedly fled the scene in a Jeep immediately following the gunfire that erupted on the street.
The victim was struck in the shoulder and rushed to Lincoln Hospital, where medical staff eventually pronounced him dead.
Two other men were wounded in the attack, including a 34-year-old shot in the foot and a 25-year-old shot in the backside.
Both adult victims were hospitalized and are expected to survive the injuries sustained during the shooting.
While investigators searched for answers at the scene, the boy’s bicycle remained lying on the sidewalk as a grim reminder of the event.
Family friend Jose Sanchez described the children in the neighborhood as being well-behaved and focused on their own activities.
“They’re great kids, they were just riding their bikes, minding their business all the time and always at home,” Sanchez said, per NBC New York.
Sanchez noted that the news of the young boy’s death has been devastating for the entire community.
“And just to hear this is heartbreaking. It’s really heartbreaking,” Sanchez added.
Jasmine Rosario, another friend of the family, spoke about the innocence of the child who lived only one block away from the shooting.
“It’s a tragedy it shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have happened. This shouldn’t have happened,” Rosario said, per NBC New York.
Rosario emphasized that the victim was a good child who had no involvement with street violence or crime.
“He’s 12-years-old. He was an innocent little kid. He’s not from the streets. He’s an awesome kid,” Rosario added.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered prayers for the family and friends of the young victim on social media.
“Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot,” Mamdani said, per ABC7 New York.
The mayor also expressed gratitude for the hospital staff and the police officers working on the case.
“We cannot accept this violence as normal,” Mamdani added.
The New York City Police Department has not yet released the boy’s identity or provided specific descriptions of the suspects.
No arrests have been made at this time as the investigation into the fatal shooting remains highly active.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline immediately.