THE NYPD IS asking for the public’s help identifying the two people seen in the attached video and photo who are sought for questioning in connection to the fatal shooting on Nov. 30, 2022 in Fordham Heights of 14-year-old Prince Shabazz, of East Tremont in Mt. Hope. Video courtesy of the NYPD
NYPD officials said they have made an arrest in the case of the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Prince Shabazz in the Fordham Heights section of The Bronx in late November.
Police said on Wednesday, Dec. 28, that an unnamed 17-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with the fatal incident, and has been charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon.
Police had previously asked for the public’s help identifying two people seen in the attached video and photo who were sought for questioning in connection to the fatal shooting of the 14-year-old resident of East Tremont in Mt. Hope, as reported.
On Wednesday, Nov. 30, at around 9.15 p.m., in front of 2249 Morris Avenue, two unidentified people crouched down behind a parked vehicle as Prince approached, walking on the sidewalk, police said. “The individuals then jumped out and discharged multiple rounds at the victim, striking him in the torso,” a police spokesperson said.
“EMS responded and transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The individuals fled the scene on foot heading eastbound on East 182 Street and then fled inside of a black Toyota Highlander,” the spokesperson added.
The first person of interest was described as a male with a dark complexion and a thin build, who was last seen wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, a black face mask, black pants, and gray sneakers. The second person of interest was also described as a male with a dark complexion and a thin build, who was last seen also wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, a blue face mask, black pants, and black sneakers.
Surveillance video and a photo showing the individuals, obtained near the incident location, are attached.
Following the latest arrest, Norwood News asked the NYPD if the case was still ongoing, if more suspects were still being sought as part of the investigation, and if the two people seen in the previously released photos and video who had been sought for questioning by police in connection with the case were still being sought. A police spokesperson responded in the affirmative to all three questions.
District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez wrote of the tragedy on Dec. 3, “There can be no greater pain than losing your child. Our community is grieving the loss of a 14-year-old boy. I will continue to fight every day to hold my colleagues accountable, and bring the resources we have been deprived of, directly to our community. We are here for you.”
She had previously written on Dec. 1, “We’re fighting for housing, jobs, opportunities so our kids & families have a chance at living with stability. Even as fight, the cancer that is gun violence continues to rip through our community. We lost a young boy yesterday, just 14 years old.”
She continued, “I learned the news from @NYPD46Pct at 3 a.m. while breastfeeding my own little one. This hurts. My most heartfelt condolences go to this family. He should still be with us, but he is gone. Losing our kids is at stake with inaction on inequality. We need guns off our streets & we need to address the root causes of this violence: deep poverty & inequality that keeps us unhoused, unemployed & unfed causing a spiral of stress & poor health manifesting in violence.”
The councilwoman concluded, “No one can tell me there isn’t enough money for universal after-school, for vocational training that lead to good paying jobs with benefits, for deeply affordable housing. No one can tell me this city and country can’t afford the most robust safety net without admitting you don’t care about the hood. Join in the fight to reorient how we think about and act on social justice. Enough is enough.”
As reported, a GoFundMe page was set-up to support the victim’s family in the wake of Prince’s death.
A person arrested in connection with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.
All calls are strictly confidential.