2nd teen boy arrested in shooting death of 16-year-old Bronx girl, police say

Police on Monday arrested a 13-year-old boy who they say passed a gun to another teen, who then shot 16-year-old bystander Evette Jeffrey near a Bronx school last week, according to NYPD officials.

Officials said the teens were part of a group that got into a physical fight around 5 p.m. last Monday outside the Bronx Latin school near Home Street and Tinton Avenue in Morrisania.

Following the altercation, the 13-year-old gave the gun to a 14-year-old boy, who used it to fire shots at another teen who had earlier punched him in the face, according to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. One of the bullets instead struck Jeffrey, who was on a scooter heading back from her high school several blocks away, Kenny said. She was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital.

The 13-year-old is being charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and other charges, according to police. His arraignment was pending in Bronx court on Monday afternoon, and the NYPD did not publicly release his name because he is a minor. Information for his lawyer was not immediately available.

Officials said he was the second of two suspects they had been looking for in connection with Jeffrey’s killing. The 14-year-old alleged shooter was arrested the day after the incident with the help of fugitive task force detectives and U.S. Marshal Service members, according to Kenny.

The 14-year-old, whose name officials also have not released, was charged with murder, manslaughter and weapons possession, among other charges, according to the Bronx district attorney’s office. After a brief stay at a hospital for psychiatric treatment, he was arraigned via video in the youth part of Bronx Supreme Court. His lawyer did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday. According to police, the 14-year-old is involved in a gang called KOD, or Kreeps on Davidson, which is reportedly a rival of one called FOE, or Forest Over Everything.

Jeffrey’s grandmother Lizette Ramirez told reporters last week that she would not be able to forgive whoever killed her granddaughter. Jeffrey was dreaming of becoming a medical technician when she grew up, had several pets she adored and was excited to go to college, Ramirez said.

“I hold your family responsible, because they should be watching,” she said.

This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.