William Ferrer, 45, has been charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, manslaughter, six counts of assault, and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes in the Bronx, the New York Police Department confirmed.
According to authorities, Ferrer is accused of opening fire during a confrontation outside Wanda Deli Grocery on Elliot Place near the Grand Concourse in the Mount Eden neighborhood on Saturday afternoon. Freytes, who investigators say was an innocent bystander, was riding his bicycle near the store when gunfire erupted shortly before 5 p.m. He was struck in the shoulder and transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, where he was pronounced dead.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced Ferrer's arrest on Sunday, describing Freytes' death as "an act of senseless gun violence." She added, "No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, but the NYPD will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for Jacob."
Surveillance video shared by United Bodegas of America appears to show Freytes exiting the bodega after purchasing a ball and then getting on his bicycle. Moments later, as gunfire erupts, the video seems to capture Freytes running back inside the store clutching his chest before collapsing.
The shooting also injured two men: a 34-year-old who was shot in the foot and a 25-year-old who was struck in the buttocks. Both were reported to be in stable condition.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his condolences to Freytes' family, stating, "Our children should be able to ride their bikes on a nice summer day in their neighborhood without fear of being shot. We cannot accept this violence as normal."
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams' office also mourned Freytes' death, calling it "tragic" and emphasizing that "our children's safety is our collective responsibility."
Ferrer has a history of run-ins with law enforcement dating back to 1999, according to law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post. His record reportedly includes arrests for alleged drug possession, drunken driving, possession of stolen property, menacing, and criminal contempt.
Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the United Bodegas of America, spoke at a press conference outside the bodega where the shooting occurred, calling Freytes' death a "devastating reminder of the toll gun violence continues to take on New York City."
Mateo noted that while the store is equipped with emergency panic buttons, the violence unfolded too quickly for them to be used. "We're just tired of having these press conferences speaking about gun violence," he said. "Whether it's in a bodega, whether it is in a cab, it's gun violence on our streets."