A quiet Saturday evening in the Bronx turned into a scene of horror after a 12-year-old boy was shot and killed while riding his bicycle near a bodega, with two other bystanders also caught in the gunfire.
The NYPD identified the victim as Jacob Freytes, a child known to friends and neighbors by his nickname, “Kai.” According to police sources, Jacob was not the intended target of the attack — he simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
By Sunday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that 45-year-old William Ferrer of the Bronx had been taken into custody. He now faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Ferrer offered no comment as officers led him out of the local precinct in handcuffs.
Investigators say the shooting broke out in broad daylight, around 5 p.m., on a residential block in the Mount Eden neighborhood. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Jacob pedaling his bike moments before gunfire erupted. He was struck in the shoulder and managed to make it inside the nearby store before collapsing. Despite being rushed to a local hospital, he could not be saved.
Two adults, ages 25 and 34, were also wounded in the same shooting. Officials say both are expected to recover.
The tragedy has left the community shaken, with residents describing chaos and panic as gunfire rang out on an otherwise ordinary afternoon. A growing memorial of candles and flowers has since appeared near the site where Jacob lived, as neighbors and childhood friends mourn the loss of a boy many remember as kind-hearted and full of life.
Local leaders have since renewed calls for stronger action against gun violence, stressing that children should be able to enjoy a summer afternoon without fear. Authorities say the investigation remains active as they continue piecing together what led to the shooting.