On a crisp Monday afternoon in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey rode her scooter near a schoolyard, unaware that her life was about to be cut short by a senseless act of violence. Around 5 p.m., gunfire erupted near 800 Home Street, where a group of teenagers had spilled out from a school building that houses three institutions: Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School, Bronx Latin, and Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School. Evette, a student at nearby Morris High School, was struck in the head by a stray bullet and collapsed to the ground. Despite being rushed to Lincoln Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries, leaving a community in mourning and a family shattered by grief.
The tragedy unfolded when a fistfight among teenage boys escalated into deadly violence, according to the New York Police Department. Security footage captured the chaotic scene: a group of youths left the schoolyard and entered a walkway alongside the building, where an altercation broke out. One boy was punched in the face and knocked to the ground, sparking further aggression. As the group moved toward Union Avenue, the boy who had been struck allegedly received a firearm from another individual and fired at least three shots into the crowd. One of those bullets found Evette, who was riding her scooter nearby, completely uninvolved in the dispute. A friend tried desperately to shield her, pulling her toward a brick wall for cover, but the effort was in vain.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as a heart-wrenching tragedy, emphasizing that Evette was an innocent bystander. “She was not engaged in the fight,” Tisch said at a news conference. “She immediately falls to the ground while the other children run away for their lives.” The commissioner’s voice carried the weight of a city grappling with yet another loss to gun violence, particularly among its youth. Mayor Eric Adams, who joined Tisch at the scene, expressed profound sorrow, stating, “We feel the loss.” He called for increased vigilance from parents, urging them to check their children’s belongings to prevent weapons from reaching young hands.
Police are now searching for a 14-year-old boy believed to be the shooter, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed. As of late Monday, no arrests had been made, and investigators were working to determine how the young suspect obtained the firearm. The NYPD has not confirmed whether the suspect attends one of the schools at the site of the shooting, but the investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
The loss of Evette Jeffrey has sent shockwaves through the Bronx, where residents are all too familiar with the scourge of gun violence. Community members gathered near the school, some confronting the mayor with demands for more police presence and enhanced safety measures, such as metal detectors in schools. One resident, Linda, recounted the terror of hearing gunshots and rushing to check on her own son, only to see Evette lying lifeless on the ground. Another local, Frank Dunn, described a recent incident where he instructed his children to duck and crawl to safety during a shooting near their home, underscoring the pervasive fear in the neighborhood.
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark condemned the violence, stating, “Kids need to be kids. They need to pick up books, not guns.” Her words echoed a broader sentiment that the cycle of youth violence must be broken. Data from the NYPD highlights the severity of the issue: in 2025 alone, the Bronx has seen 28 shooting victims and 17 shooters under the age of 18. The borough has experienced a sharp rise in juvenile shooting victims in recent years, with a 200% increase in 2024 compared to 2018.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on Evette Jeffrey—a vibrant teenager who had just turned 16 last month. Her death marks the first murder in the 42nd Precinct this year, a grim milestone in a borough that has seen a nearly 30% drop in murders and shootings in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Yet, for Evette’s family and friends, these statistics offer little comfort. They are left to mourn a young life extinguished too soon, a stark reminder of the urgent need for solutions to protect the city’s youth from the devastating impact of gun violence. The NYPD encourages anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or submit tips online, as the community seeks justice for Evette and a path toward healing.
