A 14-year-old boy has been accused of fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl during a violent schoolyard brawl in the Bronx. The young boy, whose identity has not been disclosed due to his status as a juvenile offender, appeared in court during a hospital-bed arraignment. Dressed in red pants and a black T-shirt, he pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder charge brought against him in connection to the death of Evette Jeffrey, a freshman at Morris High School.
According to Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins, the boy fired multiple shots in the direction of around 20 school-age children, ultimately hitting Evette in the head. Despite his young age, the alleged gunman had a previous assault charge on his record. Judge Gayle P. Roberts ordered him to be held without bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and his prior family court findings.
In addition to the murder charge, the boy faces charges of attempted murder, manslaughter, and three weapon possession-related offenses. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday. The shooting took place outside a school in Morrisania and is believed to have been sparked by a feud between two street gangs – Forest Over Everything and Kreep On Davidson.
Evette Jeffrey was not involved in the dispute but tragically became an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. The shooter fled the scene after the incident but was apprehended the following morning while attempting to board a taxi. Evette was celebrating her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend when the shooting occurred. Her grandmother expressed heartbreak over the loss and vowed never to forgive the shooter or anyone involved in supplying the gun.
Authorities are still searching for a 12-year-old boy suspected of providing the gun to the shooter. The community continues to mourn the loss of Evette and grapple with the senseless violence that took her life. The investigation into the incident is ongoing as law enforcement works to bring all those responsible to justice.
