Evette Jeffrey Cause Of Death – A tragic incident unfolded in the Bronx as a 16-year-old girl, identified as Evette Jeffrey, was fatally shot in the head while standing near a school after classes had ended. The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that officers responding to the scene discovered Jeffrey unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head. She was immediately rushed to Lincoln Hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Deputy Police Commissioner Kaz Daughtry and NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban were among the officials who confirmed details about the incident. NYPD Commissioner Caban expressed outrage and sorrow, emphasizing that the young girl should have been safe at home with her family, not the victim of senseless violence. “She should be home right now eating dinner with her family,” NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry stated, underscoring the heartbreak surrounding yet another young life lost to gun violence.
The shooting occurred in the late afternoon near a schoolyard where students had recently been dismissed. Surveillance footage recovered from the area revealed a group of youths exiting the school and moving into a walkway beside the building. In that walkway, a fight broke out. According to the police, a 14-year-old boy dressed in a white T-shirt and shorts was struck in the face by another male. The attacker continued to hit others in the group.
In a troubling escalation, someone handed the 14-year-old a handgun. Officials said the boy, apparently reacting to being hit, approached the person who had punched him and opened fire. He discharged three rounds into the crowd. The entire event was captured on security video.
During the chaos, Jeffrey, who had just turned 16, was seen on video riding a scooter toward the area where the fight and shooting took place. Police emphasized that she was not involved in the fight and appeared to be an innocent bystander. As the situation turned dangerous, another boy tried to pull her behind a brick wall for safety, but she was tragically struck by one of the bullets.
Jeffrey was a student at Morris High School, located nearby. Her death has sent shockwaves through the community. Her grandmother, speaking with reporters from WABC, expressed her anguish and said she would never be able to forgive the shooter or anyone connected to the incident. “You can say you’re sorry a million times,” she said. “I will never forgive you, any of you.”
Authorities confirmed that the suspected shooter, the 14-year-old boy, had been taken into custody by Tuesday. Charges are expected, though specific details about them have yet to be released.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson spoke publicly about the emotional toll the incident has taken on the victim’s family. “Her mother is absolutely inconsolable,” Gibson said. “She got the worst phone call that no parent should ever get—that her child was shot while at a playground after school.” She also pointed out the devastating timing of the tragedy, which came just one day after Mother’s Day. “This is a parent that will never be the same again.”
The broader issue of youth violence in the borough was highlighted by NYPD officials. NYPD Commissioner Caban noted that shootings involving victims under 18 years old in the Bronx have skyrocketed by 200% in 2024 compared to 2018. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling it a crisis. “These are babies killing babies and it has to stop,” Caban said.
Mayor Eric Adams also visited the scee and met with grieving families and concerned members of the community. He took to social media to describe the situation as an “unimaginable tragedy,” sharing his sorrow over the loss of another young life. “I don’t even know what to say when a shooting like this occurs,” Adams posted. “Us parents must continue to do everything in our power to make sure our kids cannot access guns.”
The incident has reignited concerns across the city about rising youth violence, easy access to firearms, and the lack of safe spaces for children after school. City leaders, parents, and educators are once again calling for stronger community engagement, more after-school programs, and stricter gun control policies to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
For now, the Bronx community is left mourning a bright young girl whose life was cut short far too soon. Her death adds to the growing list of youth lost to gun violence, and it underscores the urgent need for solutions to keep children safe in their neighborhoods and schools. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.