Two people riding a moped fired shots in the vicinity of a schoolyard at East 180th Street and Prospect Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx on Friday, July 12, police said.

 

M.S. 129 Academy for Independent Learning is located at the intersection. When contacted about the incident, an NYPD spokeswoman confirmed the shooting, which reportedly occurred at around 4.30 p.m., saying, “I called the Precinct (48) and what I was told is that no-one was injured. The shots were being captured by the shotspotters, and the incident is under investigation.”

 

She continued, “No-one is hurt. We have two individuals who fled on a moped.” Asked if schoolkids were in the schoolyard at the time the shots were fired, she said, “That, I didn’t get any details on.” Asked for a description of the suspects, the spokeswoman said she did not have one at this time and added that police were canvassing the area for video footage.

 

According to a police radio transmission posted to the Citizens’ App about the incident, a school in the area was placed on lockdown and the two suspects were described as being dressed in black hoodies, riding a red moped, and one had a yellow backpack.

 

Norwood News contacted NYC Department of Education (DOE) for comment and to corroborate the report of a lockdown, and will update this story upon receipt of any further information we receive.

 

As reported, 16-year-old Angellyh Yambo was killed on April 8, 2022 when she was shot by a stray bullet while walking home from University Prep Charter High School in Mott Haven with her two friends, who were also shot but survived.

 

Her family, friends, and teacher say she was a talented artist and had her sights set on becoming a doctor. Her school friends held an anti-gun violence march in her memory during Gun Violence Awareness Month in June 2022.

 

As reported, Jeremiah Ryan, the shooter, was later sentenced to 15 years for the killing. As also reported, in July 2023, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) commemorated National Gun Violence Awareness Month that year by joining Angellyh’s family, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and students from University Prep Charter High School to announce new federal legislation banning ghost guns, and expanding the perimeter of gun-free school zones.

 

Angellyh’s family filed a civil lawsuit on March 27 this year against Polymer80, Inc., the ghost gun manufacturer and dealer who equipped Angellyh’s 17-year-old shooter with an untraceable firearm.