A 12-year-old boy identified as Jacob Freytes, the son of a retired New York Police Department detective sergeant, was fatally shot by a stray bullet Saturday afternoon outside a bodega in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx while riding his bicycle.

The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on July 25, 2026, near Elliott Place and the Grand Concourse outside the Wanda Deli Grocery (also referred to as Wanda Supermarket Deli). Freytes had stopped at the store to buy a ball, left his bike outside, and was an innocent bystander when a violent brawl involving several men erupted in the street. Gunfire rang out, and a bullet struck the boy in the shoulder/chest area.

Surveillance video obtained by media outlets shows Freytes observing the commotion, then running back into the bodega while clutching his chest before collapsing on the floor inside the store. He was transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in critical condition and was pronounced dead there.

Two other men were also wounded in the incident: a 34-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the left foot, and a 25-year-old was shot in the buttocks. Both were listed in stable condition.

Freytes was the son of retired Bronx Detective Sgt. Jesus Freytes, who previously worked in the 44th Precinct. Family members described the boy as a typical, respectful 12-year-old who enjoyed sports, particularly basketball, and had a younger brother and sister. His aunt, Bruni Freytes, called the day “the darkest day of my family’s life,” writing that her nephew was “just riding his bike around the corner” and became “another statistic of gun violence on our streets.” A neighbor recalled shaking the boy’s hand shortly before the shooting and described him as a “good bright kid.”

On Sunday, July 26, police arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer of the Bronx outside his home. Ferrer, who has a criminal record dating back to 1999 that includes arrests for menacing, criminal contempt, possession of stolen property, drunken driving, and drug offenses, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. Police sources indicated the shooting may have been related to a dispute among a group of men, with Ferrer allegedly firing into the group.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated: “Jacob was an innocent bystander on his bike when he was taken from his family yesterday in an act of senseless gun violence. No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, but the NYPD will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for Jacob.”

A memorial has been established in the Mount Eden neighborhood as the family and community mourn the loss of the young boy.

Sources

• NewYorkPost