A 2-year-old child was shot and hospitalized on Saturday, March 30, in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx, police said. An NYPD spokeswoman said the young boy was grazed by a bullet at 1.44 p.m. at the Grand Concourse and East Fordham Road.

 

“He was removed by EMS, to Jacobi hospital in stable condition,” the spokeswoman said. “The perpetrator is described as a male, Black, wearing a green hoodie, a black jacket with fur on the collar, light-blue jeans, and possibly red sneakers, and fled northbound on Creston Avenue towards 190th Street.”

 

Officer Stephen Echevarria from the 52nd Precinct later shared further updates, writing, “When officers arrived, they located a 2-year-old male shot once in the abdomen. The child was transported to Jacobi hospital and is in stable condition.” Echevarria said the perpetrator had been firing his gun in the direction of two other male individuals at that location, missed them and instead hit the little boy.”

The shooting took place a block and a half from where an Easter Egg hunt for young children was taking place in St. James Park, hosted by local District 14 City Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez, Assemblyman George Alvarez (A.D. 78) and partners.

 

Norwood resident and Bronx CB7 board member, Betty Arce, said of the tragedy, “How very sad that a little baby has had to suffer because of the lawlessness in our neighborhoods. Praying for this little one’s complete recovery and for his family.”

 

Meanwhile, members of cure violence group, Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence, organized an anti-gun violence gathering on Tuesday, April  2, at the location of the shooting to denounce those responsible and call for an end to the violence.

 

The group wrote, “It is with great sadness that we report a shooting of a 2-year-old this past Saturday on Fordham Road, in broad daylight, while walking with his mother, as community members were shopping, running errands, enjoying the day before Easter, etcetera! Thankfully, the child will survive and he and his family are receiving services.”

The group continued, “But, make no mistake, WE CANNOT STAND FOR THE IDEA, THE IDEA, THAT IT IS OK FOR ANY KIND OF VIOLENCE, LET ALONE VIOLENCE THAT IMPACTS A CHILD WILL EVER BE OK!!! If there ever was a moment to join B.R.A.G. to DENOUNCE these violent acts, it is NOW!!! United, we can defeat this. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrived on the scene after the incident. Speaking to reporters on the day, he appeared somewhat de-energized and said, “The 2-year-old child that was injured, I’m going to see the child’s mom now.” He continued, “But you know when you’re coming from a police funeral when a gun took the life of a young police officer, now, you’re hearing of a shooting like this, [it] just tells you, the city, why we are just so committed to taking illegal guns off the street.”

 

As reported, the family of the late, 16-year-old, Bronx teen, Angellyh Marie Yambo, filed a civil lawsuit on March 27 against Polymer80, Inc., the ghost gun manufacturer and dealer who equipped Angellyh’s 17-year-old shooter and named defendant, Jeremiah Ryan, with an untraceable firearm.

POLICE OFFICERS RESPOND to the shooting of a 2-year-old boy on East Fordham Road and the Grand Concourse in the Fordham Manor section of The Bronx on Saturday, March 29, 2024. New York City Mayor Eric Adams later speaks to reporters about the incident. Videos by David Greene.

 

As also reported previously, an 11-month-old baby girl, who became affectionately known in The Bronx as “Baby Catherine,” was grazed on her face by a bullet in the Bedford Park section of The Bronx on Jan. 19, 2022. The incident caused outrage in the local community and occurred right at the beginning of the mayor’s first term in office.

 

Adams was also at that shooting scene on the night it occurred and also later attended a vigil organized by the 52nd Precinct Community Council president, Brenda Caldwell, to pray for the little girl’s recovery. As reported, two people were later arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

 

In the context of a recent “Stomp the Violence” event organized by My Brother’s Keeper in conjunction with the Office of the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, the borough president said, “In partnership with My Brother’s Keeper and our anti-gun violence partners, we held a Stomp the Violence event to provide resources and education to better prepare our young Kings for the future.”

Meanwhile, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) said in part, “Gun violence in The Bronx remains an epidemic destroying far too many young lives.”

 

Meanwhile, reacting to the latest shooting, local councilman for District 15, Oswald Feliz said, “Earlier today, an individual w. no regard for the life of others decided to commit gun violence on Fordham in the Bronx. A 2-year-old became the latest victim. There must be real accountability for those that carry/use guns! The excuses are leading to horror in our communities!”

 

As reported, a 25-year-old man died from gunshot wounds later that evening a few blocks away at Tiebout Avenue and East 187th Street also in Fordham Manor. A second man was also shot but survived.

Anyone with information in regard to 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.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

 

All calls are strictly confidential.