New York City authorities are on the hunt for the individual responsible for the tragic shooting of a 15-year-old in Queens.
Jaden Pierre was fatally shot on a basketball court at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens after being approached by a group of teenagers. The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, as reported by the New York Police Department (NYPD). Pierre sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Following the shooting, Pierre was transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
This heartbreaking event took place in a public park, a place where teenagers often gather to play basketball, highlighting ongoing concerns about youth violence in New York City. Such incidents are frequently captured and spread across social media, adding to the city’s challenges.
The NYPD is actively seeking the suspect responsible for this senseless act of violence, which claimed the life of young Jaden Pierre.
A witness, speaking to CBS News, recounted the harrowing moments: “I came over here, I heard a shot go off, so I came running over here to make sure everybody was okay, especially my friends, and I saw a kid lying dead. I know him from coming over here to play basketball. Good basketball player, cool kid.”
Videos circulating on X appear to show moments leading up to the shooting, with a crowd surrounding Pierre and another person as the teenager is repeatedly punched before the group quickly disperses.
As of Saturday, no arrests have been made, but the NYPD told Fox News Digital it released photos of a person wanted in connection with the shooting.
No arrests have been made regarding the case, but the NYPD has released photos of a person who may be connected to the shooting. (Peter Gerber)
New York Attorney General Letitia James reacted to the killing in a post on X, writing, “My heart is heavy tonight after we lost a 15-year-old to a senseless act of gun violence. I’m praying for his family, loved ones, and community. I will continue to work tirelessly every day to end gun violence in New York.”
Pastor Cory Brooks, founder of Project H.O.O.D., said in a statement to Fox News Digital that his heart was “shattered” as he condemned the crowd for filming the attack instead of stepping in.
“A 15-year-old child was hunted down, beaten, and shot dead in cold blood,” Brooks wrote. “In a playground. Where laughter belongs. Not execution.”
The NYPD is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting of Jaden Pierre to contact them using the Crime Stoppers hotline. (Peter Gerber)
His statement continued: “The crowd did not run for help. They pulled out phones, recorded every brutal second, and cheered as if it were entertainment. That video does not just document a murder — it exposes a generation whose conscience has been seared by moral darkness. These were our own children devouring our own children.”
The NYPD is asking anyone with information about the shooter to call its Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish.
Tips can also be submitted online through the Crime Stoppers website or on X at @NYPDTIPS.
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