Accused Killer of 12-Year-Old Pleads Not Guilty as Victim's Mother Faces Him in Court

William Ferrer, 45, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in Bronx Supreme Court to charges in connection with the July 25 killing of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes. Freytes was fatally struck by a stray bullet outside a bodega in Mount Eden. The accused killer, Ferrer, appeared in court clad in beige jail scrubs as the victim's mother, Migdalia Martinez, watched him for the first time, visibly emotional.

Martinez, who wore a t-shirt featuring photos of herself and her son, expressed her grief and the emotional toll of the event. "I just wanted him to see how I felt, what he left me with. I feel like a shell. I carry a burden," she told The Post. "I don’t feel like I deserve this."

Ferrer, who has a history of at least six prior arrests dating back to 1999, is accused of firing shots during a dispute outside Wanda Deli Grocery. Authorities stated that Jacob Freytes, the son of retired NYPD Detective Sgt. Jesus Freytes, had gone to the store to purchase a ball when the gunfire erupted. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the boy being struck and staggering back into the store. Two other men were also injured in the incident.

During the hearing, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Alvin Yearwood denied a defense request to exclude cameras from the courtroom, affirming the public's right to know and the importance of transparency in the justice system. "You open the doors wide, you allow the public to see what’s happening, and that will help to provide confidence in the system, that we are not doing things in the dark," Yearwood stated.

The judge also informed Jacob's family that the legal process could be lengthy, advising them that a trial was unlikely before the end of the year due to the court's caseload. "You’re welcome to come to every single court date, but understand you’re not getting a trial before the end of this year because unfortunately we have a lot of cases that we have to work through."

Outside the courthouse, Martinez described the encounter with Ferrer as different from any previous sightings of him. "Whether I’ve seen him before or not, it’s a lot different when you see them after they committed something like that to someone you love," she said. She also criticized what she perceived as Ferrer's attempts to delay facing consequences, stating, "He’s trying to buy time. The system is just messed up. This is just a mockery to him."

Ferrer faces charges including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, and weapons offenses. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 17. He is being held without bail.