A teenage girl has lost her life in a senseless tragedy in a New York City neighborhood. Evette Jeffrey was reportedly an innocent bystander, just outside enjoying the afternoon. As she spoke with her friends, a fight broke out amongst a group of boys. The fight escalated, and soon, a gun was drawn.
Shots began to ring out, spraying the crowd and hitting Jeffrey. Now, the girl’s family is in mourning as police continue to investigate who fired the gun. There is a hope people will step forward and give more insight into what happened.
The shooting took place in the Morrisania section of the Bronx in New York City, on May 12, 2025. According to police, a fight broke out at a nearby schoolyard, CBS News reported. Two groups of teens were arguing near The Bronx Latin School playground. Allegedly, a gun was passed to one of the teens, who then shot into the crowd about 5 p.m.
Jeffrey, 16, was outside riding her scooter, according to reports, including by CBS News. She stopped to talk to a friend who was near the fight.
As they spoke, a bullet hit her in the head, gravely injuring her. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that during the fight, Jeffrey “immediately walks over to another male at the edge of the group, who attempts to pull her to a brick wall for cover,” NBC New York reported. She died from her injuries in the hospital.
Just a day after Mother’s Day, her mother was left to mourn. “Mom is absolutely inconsolable. She got the phone call no parent should ever get, ever, that her child was shot while she was here at a playground after school,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
On May 13, police brought in a 14-year-old boy for questioning. Currently, he is a person of interest in the shooting, according to ABC New York. Police are still trying to piece together how he ended up with the gun. Some say it was handed to him before he began shooting.
“I hold your family responsible because they should be watching you,” Jeffrey’s grandmother said, per ABC New York. “Whoever handed it to you or if you had it, I will never forgive you. I don’t care. You can say you’re sorry a million times, I will never forgive you, any of you.”
Police are asking that people step forward if they have any information about the shooting. “A 16-year-old is dead at the hands of a 14-year-old with a gun,” Tisch said, according to NBC New York. “These are babies killing babies and it has to stop.”
