Teen Girl, 16, Fatally Shot After Playground Fight in the Bronx

A mother in the Bronx lost her young daughter to gun violence the day after Mother’s Day.

The NYPD said that 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey died from a gunshot wound to the head after a fight on Monday night in the Morrisania neighbourhood of the borough.

A 14-year-old boy is wanted by police for his part in the fatal shooting. Reporters from the police say they have talked to his mother.

The town wants answers as the search for the shooter goes on.

The NYPD says these things led to the shooting:

Police said it all began at 5 p.m. with a fight on the field of a multi-campus school. Police say the fight finished with gunshots, and the teenager, who was riding a scooter, was shot in the head. CBS News New York got video of the fight.

“The victim is a student at Moore High School, which is close by.” Last month, she turned 16. The head of the NYPD, Jessica Tisch, said, “She should be home right now eating dinner.”

“Mom can’t take it anymore.” Mayor of the Bronx Vanessa Gibson said, “She got the call that no parent should ever get: her child had been shot while she was here at a play after school.”

Late Monday night, a news conference was held where many city leaders spoke.

Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the chancellor of schools, said, “We must find a way to make sure our babies know they are loved and supported and that they don’t have to abuse.”

“Kids should be kids.” The DA for the Bronx, Darcel Clark, said, “They need to know to pick up books, not guns.”

“When you look at beautiful park where children do what they do and to lose a young child, this really impacts us,” Eric Adams said.

Adams gets a lot of flak from people in the neighborhood.

Parents were very angry and told the mayor that more needed to be done for the kids in the borough, like putting more cops on the streets.

“I ran over to my son in the field when I heard the shots.” A resident called Linda said, “I saw the little girl lying on the ground.”

“About like before we went on vacation two weeks ago, people shooting in front of our window, had to tell the kids get down duck and crawl into the hallway,” Dunn said.

So far this year, police say there have been 28 shooting victims and 17 shooters in the borough. All of the shooters and victims are under 18 years old.

Lina said, “The kids can’t play or be kids around here.”

Anyone who knows anything should call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers number at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also send them a tip through their website or by direct message (DM) on Twitter (@NYPDTips). No one else can hear your calls.

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