A 16-year-old boy surrendered to authorities Tuesday and faces murder charges in connection with the death of another teenager in a Bronx apartment. Kalvin Veloz is accused of shooting 15-year-old Riley Billingsley inside an apartment on Claflin Avenue in Kingsbridge Heights on August 12.
According to police, Veloz allegedly produced a .45 caliber firearm from his backpack, loaded it, and then stated, “I’m going to throw some pain,” before firing the weapon at Billingsley. The 15-year-old victim sustained a fatal head wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities believe the shooting was intentional.
A second victim, a 13-year-old boy, was also injured in the incident. He was grazed in the chest by a ricocheted bullet and was hospitalized in stable condition.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny described the alleged shooter as someone with a volatile temperament. Kenny also noted that Veloz has a prior, unreported incident involving burning another juvenile. The grandmother of the deceased victim, Riley Billingsley, expressed gratitude for the suspect's surrender and voiced a desire to understand the motive behind the violence.
Veloz has been charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. His arraignment was pending.
The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m. on August 12. Billingsley, who had no prior criminal record, was reportedly in a bedroom with a group of teenagers when the shooting occurred.
