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Bronx Teen’s Death Highlights Escalating Youth Gun Violence

Evette Jeffrey, 16, was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a gang-related dispute; a 14-year-old suspect is in custody but hospitalized for evaluation.

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Overview

  • Evette Jeffrey, an innocent bystander, was killed by a stray bullet while riding her scooter near Bronx Latin School during a fight between rival teenage gangs.
  • The 14-year-old suspect, who fired three shots after being handed a gun during the altercation, was arrested by NYPD and U.S. Marshals but is hospitalized for evaluation, delaying formal charges.
  • The shooting involved rival gangs Forest Over Everything (FOE) and Kreep On Davidson (KOD), and investigators are probing how the suspect obtained the firearm.
  • Additional stray-bullet incidents in the Bronx have injured other youths, underscoring a sharp rise in youth-involved gun violence, which has more than doubled since 2018.
  • Community leaders and grieving family members are calling for justice, stricter gun control measures, and expanded violence prevention programs to address the crisis.