A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with shooting and killing a 16-year-old girl who was walking home from school in the Bronx on Friday.
Jeremiah Ryan has been arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon, New York Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at apress conferenceon Saturday.
Ryan is accused of shooting three people during an altercation at the corner of E. 156th and St. Anne’s Avenue around 1:45 p.m. local time.
The 16-year-old victim was said to be walking home from school at Bronx Preparatory Charter when she was shot. Another 16-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were also shot during the altercation, per the NYPD.
The deceased victim’s aunt toldPIX11on Saturday that her family is “trying to hold it together to be with one another and give support where we can” after receiving the “worst phone call anybody could get.”
“I just hope this violence stops,” said the aunt, adding, “it’s hurting a lot of us.”
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“While [the victim’s] loved ones are devastated, we can pray that this arrest brings them some sense of solace,” Sewell said at Saturday’s press conference.
The incident began when Ryan, who was standing on the southeast corner of the intersection, allegedly gestured to someone standing on the southwest corner, who reciprocated, NYPD Chief Timothy McCormack said at theinitial press conferenceheld on Friday.
The two went back and forth until Ryan allegedly pulled out a gun and discharged it “in a westbound direction,” striking the three victims in the process, per police.
The victim who died was shot in the chest, McCormack said. The second female victim was shot in the shin while the male was hit in the buttocks.
All three victims were taken to Lincoln Hospital, where the first girl was pronounced dead at around 2 p.m., McCormack noted.
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At Saturday’s press conference, McCormack told reporters the female victims were about a half a block away from Ryan when he opened fire, while the male was “a full block away from the shooter.”
Six shell casings were recovered from the scene, McCormack said. The gun used to commit the crime is believed to be a ghost gun.
“This despicable act of violence stole the life from one young person today and wounded two others. As a father of four children, I can only imagine the immense pain these families are going through today,” Banks said. “These three children join dozens of other students who have been victims of gun violence in our city this year.”
Banks also said he stands “fully behind"Mayor Eric Adamsand his work “to rid our city of this violence, restore peace to our neighborhoods, and bring healing to these school communities.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the Bronx shootingin a statement on Twitter, writing, “Our hearts break for their family & we pray that the other victims recover.”
“This is why we are working to get guns off the street & hold those who commit gun crimes accountable. We must keep our children safe,” she added.
A GoFundMe campaignto help with funeral expenses has garnered more than $8,200 as of publication Saturday afternoon.
Chantal Lorenzo, who organized the campaign, described the deceased victim as “an amazing, kind young lady” in the description.
“She had a beautiful heart, soul and was the most purist person you would’ve loved to know or have her be a part of your life,” Lorenzo wrote. “She brought so much joy, love, laughter and light to those that she encountered.”
“This case is not finished yet,” McCormack said on Saturday. “This is just the beginning.”
source: people.com
