A tragic incident unfolded in a Bronx park on Tuesday when a water-gun fight turned deadly, resulting in the shooting death of a teenage boy. Darrell Harris, 17, was fatally shot in the head during a chaotic altercation that escalated after another boy sprayed him with water from a gel-pellet gun at Starlight Park. The scuffle quickly turned violent when a companion of the gel-pellet gunman pulled out a real firearm and fired at Harris, hitting him in the head and arm.
Harris’s devastated mother, Kelli Lewis, shared her heartbreak as she mourned the loss of her second son to city violence. She revealed that Harris, who rarely ventured outside, had promised to be home by 9 p.m. but tragically never made it back. The shooting occurred as her other son was celebrating his 20th birthday, adding another layer of grief to the family’s tragedy. Lewis previously lost her oldest child, Jamal Hunter, 27, to gun violence on a Bronx street in 2021.
Describing Harris as a student at Bronx Leadership Academy High School with no known enemies, Lewis emphasized that her son was not involved in street activities or hanging out with the wrong crowd. The gunman, who may have been wearing a ski mask, fled the scene with his accomplice, leaving behind a knife, shell casings, and multiple water guns.
Despite Harris being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, he tragically succumbed to his injuries. The shooter remains at large, leaving Lewis and her surviving son grappling with the devastating loss on what was supposed to be a celebratory day. Lewis expressed the far-reaching impact of gun violence, highlighting the ripple effect it has on families and communities.
As the search for the gunman continues, the community mourns the senseless loss of a young life and grapples with the repercussions of violence. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of impulsive decisions and the lasting impact of gun violence on families.
