It was shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday when a sudden, violent fight erupted on Elliott Place near Grand Concourse. Up to six men were involved in a chaotic street brawl right outside the Wanda Deli Grocery.
Without warning, one of the men pulled out a gun and began wildly firing into the crowded sidewalk. Panic spread immediately as bystanders scrambled in every direction to escape the deadly gunfire.
When the shooting stopped, three people lay injured on the pavement from the random barrage of bullets. A 34-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his left foot, while a 25-year-old man was struck in the buttocks.
Both surviving victims were treated at local hospitals, where medical staff listed them in stable condition. Tragically, young Jacob Freytes suffered a critical gunshot wound after being caught directly in the crossfire.
First responders rushed the boy to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, but doctors were unable to save his life. At the time of the shooting, his father, retired NYPD Det. Sgt. Jesus Freytes, was out of state in Connecticut.
