12-Year-Old Son of Retired NYPD Detective Killed by Stray Bullet Outside Bronx Bodega — What He Was Doing in His Final Moments

A peaceful afternoon in Mount Eden turned into pure horror when gunshots shattered the quiet block, leaving a retired officer's young son mortally wounded.

The shocking weekend violence has gripped the entire city, with heartbroken neighbors demanding justice for 12-year-old Jacob Freytes.

While police moved fast to apprehend the gunman, lingering surveillance footage captured the innocent young boy's tragic choices during those final seconds.

A Wild Street Brawl Ends in Tragedy

It was shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday when a sudden, violent fight erupted on Elliott Place near Grand Concourse. Up to six men were involved in a chaotic street brawl right outside the Wanda Deli Grocery.

Without warning, one of the men pulled out a gun and began wildly firing into the crowded sidewalk. Panic spread immediately as bystanders scrambled in every direction to escape the deadly gunfire.

When the shooting stopped, three people lay injured on the pavement from the random barrage of bullets. A 34-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his left foot, while a 25-year-old man was struck in the buttocks.

Both surviving victims were treated at local hospitals, where medical staff listed them in stable condition. Tragically, young Jacob Freytes suffered a critical gunshot wound after being caught directly in the crossfire.

First responders rushed the boy to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, but doctors were unable to save his life. At the time of the shooting, his father, retired NYPD Det. Sgt. Jesus Freytes, was out of state in Connecticut.

Cops Bust the Alleged Career Criminal

Detectives acted swiftly, identifying the accused gunman as 45-year-old William Ferrer. Law enforcement sources indicated that Ferrer was attempting to settle a score for his brother when he opened fire.

Authorities arrested Ferrer and hauled him into the 44th Precinct stationhouse on Sunday afternoon. A small crowd of angry local residents glared at the suspect as officers led him to an unmarked police car.

Wearing a plain white T-shirt and black Nike sweatpants, the suspect showed no emotion during his walk out. Prosecutors officially arraigned Ferrer on Sunday night, and he was locked up without bail at Rikers Island.

He now faces a long list of serious criminal counts, including second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, and first-degree manslaughter. Additional charges filed in the complaint include first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

This arrest is far from Ferrer's first brush with the law, as police sources confirmed a lengthy rap sheet with at least half a dozen prior arrests. His record dates back to 1999 for possession of a forged instrument, followed by separate 2001 arrests for menacing and criminal contempt.

Over the following years, he was cuffed for stolen property in the Bronx in 2004, drunk driving and marijuana in 2009, and drug possession in 2013. Despite this extensive history, the accused shooter was back on the street when violence broke out outside the store.

A Community Drowned in Tears

By Monday, deep grief enveloped the family's neighborhood as relatives and friends gathered outside their apartment building. A growing memorial displayed candles, a football, fresh flowers, colorful toys, sympathy cards, and a portrait of the bright young boy.

The slain child's mother, Migdalia Martinez, was completely crushed by the sudden loss of her son. Distraught beyond words, she sat on the building steps, locked in a tight embrace with a loved one as they wept together.

The boy's uncle, Julio Lopez, had actually seen Jacob earlier that morning while walking his dogs. Lopez recalled hearing the gunshots ring out before seeing terrified people running around the corner.

He described his nephew as a good kid who always showed respect and greeted neighbors up the block. Lopez urged neighborhood thugs to drop their weapons, arguing that people should put up their fists or boxing gloves instead of taking lives.

Local mother Missell Ventura, whose daughter was close friends with Jacob, called him a beautiful boy. She admitted feeling terrified to let her daughter walk to the store or go to school alone because the street violence feels completely out of control.

The Bronx Plagued by Stray Bullets

This heartbreaking death reflects a terrifying pattern of stray-bullet violence across the borough in recent months. Back in April, an innocent 78-year-old man was killed as he sat on a courtyard bench near his Mott Haven home.

Known affectionately as Pops, Edgar Spence was simply enjoying the warm evening air at the Mitchel Houses on Alexander Avenue. Neighbors lit candles in the shape of an E to honor the beloved grandfather who died after being struck in the stomach shortly before 11 p.m.

Violence struck the borough again in May, when a five-year-old girl holding her mother's hand was grazed in the ear outside a store. That shooting happened outside Gourmet Deli and Juice Bar on Southern Boulevard in Longwood during an argument over a bag of weed.

The little girl was rushed to Harlem Hospital after a bullet grazed her ear, while gunfire shattered the store's glass door. By mid-July, authorities had arrested three teenagers linked to that gunfire, charging all three with attempted murder.

Local business leaders and store clerks expressed total panic over the endless street battles leaving innocent residents in danger.

What Security Footage Captured in His Final Moments

As investigators carefully reviewed store security video, the heartbreaking details of Jacob's final moments finally came to light. The innocent 12-year-old had hopped on his bicycle and pedaled over to the corner store with a simple errand in mind.

Surveillance footage shows he had cycled to the bodega specifically to buy a ball. Video shows him leaving his bike outside, stepping inside to make his purchase, and then stepping back out onto the sidewalk.

Just as he walked outside, the reckless group of men began brawling right in front of the entrance. Jacob can be seen through the door getting onto his bike to ride away, before stopping to look back at the commotion as shots were fired.

In a harrowing split second, a stray bullet struck the young bystander as the gunman opened fire into the crowd. Rather than collapsing immediately outside, the wounded preteen managed to get off his bike and ran back into the bodega.

Security video recorded the boy as he desperately clutched his chest while seeking safety inside the shop. Horrified onlookers watched in sheer panic as Jacob collapsed onto the floor moments later.

Official records confirmed the tragic details, documenting how the child was caught in the crossfire during a routine trip to the store. Now, a grieving community and a devastated family are left to process a senseless loss that should never have happened.