A 7-year-old boy was shot in a Bronx home on Sunday afternoon, making him the third innocent minor to be struck by a bullet in the borough within a week, according to police reports. The incident took place at a residence on East 230th Street in the Wakefield section of the Bronx, where the child sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand around 4 p.m.
The family of the young victim immediately transported him to Jacobi Medical Center, where he is currently in stable condition. Authorities are now investigating whether the child accidentally shot himself in the hand after gaining access to a firearm. The NYPD received a 911 call regarding the shooting, and the case remains under active investigation.
Unfortunately, this incident is part of a troubling trend in the Bronx, with at least three innocent children being shot in the area within a week. On May 12, 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was fatally shot in the head near a schoolyard, caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shootout. Just a day later, an 11-year-old boy was injured in a shooting when teens opened fire on a rival gang close to where Jeffrey was killed. The young boy was hit with glass from a shattered car window and was also hospitalized in stable condition.
Mayor Eric Adams visited the scene of the tragic shooting and spoke with concerned parents, emphasizing the need to create safe environments for young people. The shooters in both incidents managed to escape, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in the Bronx. Police are actively investigating the recent incidents and working to ensure the safety of residents in the area.
