A Bronx mother who recently gave a neighborhood boy a bicycle says New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has failed to address persistent gang violence in the area where the child was fatally struck by a stray bullet, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Jacob Freytes, 12, the son of retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes, was riding the bicycle to a neighborhood bodega when gunfire erupted shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday near Wanda Deli Grocery on Elliott Place by the Grand Concourse in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx.
Authorities said Jacob was struck by a stray bullet after a suspected gunman allegedly opened fire at rival targets.
Career criminal remanded on slew of charges for allegedly gunning down innocent 12-year-old son of retired cop.https://t.co/S1vpSuI9gH [2] pic.twitter.com/qjNTSuqzfr [3]
— Blanche Victoria (@tammytabby) July 27, 2026 [4]
Miledy Rosario, a mother of four whose 12-year-old daughter was friends with Jacob, said the violence on the block has been an ongoing problem and criticized city leadership for not doing more to improve public safety in the neighborhood.
“I feel that the mayor that’s celebrating in the parade right now should take better care of this block, because there’s a lot of gang members,” Rosario said, referring to Mamdani participating in the Bronx’s Dominican Day parade Sunday.
“There’s a lot of gang members. This is not the first time this thing happened here. This has been happening a lot of times. He [the mayor] should know that there is a lot of gangs on that block there, and they had to be a cleanup,” Rosario said.
“He’s talking about stopping violence. But it is still continuing. And so if they don’t clean that block there, we’re gonna continue to see the same thing,” she added. “Before there was police on that corner. But yesterday there was no one there.”
Rosario said she had given Jacob the bicycle just one day before the shooting after purchasing a new one for her daughter.
“I bought a new bicycle for my daughter, and I asked him, ‘Hey, do you want [her’s]?’” Rosario told The Post.
“He said, ‘Oh, thank you so much. I’m gonna talk to my mom.’ And they gave him permission to have the bicycle. … And, you know, he was really happy,” Rosario said.
“I’m a mom of four kids, and I’m really scared. This kid was just running around on a bicycle, and got shot. Jacob didn’t deserve this.”
Police arrested William Ferrer, 45, outside his home Sunday in connection with Jacob’s death.
According to sources, Ferrer has an arrest history dating back to 1999, including drug possession in 2013, marijuana possession in 2009, driving while intoxicated in 2009, and possession of stolen property in the Bronx in 2004.
Investigators are also examining whether the shooting was connected to rival street gangs. Sources said the Mount Eden neighborhood is known territory for the Trinitarios and Sev Side Pinni gangs, and police are investigating whether members of those groups were involved.
Following the shooting, Mamdani issued a statement expressing sympathy for Jacob’s family and the other victims.
“Their loss is unimaginable. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the other two victims of this shooting. I’m grateful for the hospital staff and the NYPD for their work to find those responsible for this heinous act,” Mamdani said.
“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.”
Jacob’s father, retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes, previously served in the Bronx precinct where the shooting occurred, according to sources.
The tragedy has also deeply affected Jacob’s friends and neighbors. Rosario’s daughter, Marlyn, said her friend “was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Daniel Rosario, Miledy’s husband, said the loss has left neighborhood children struggling to cope.
“My kids are traumatized. My daughter, who was just talking to you, was in tears yesterday. Crying all night. You see them running around the street now, but they are traumatized,” he said.
“[Jacob] put up a little hoop outside our apartment door, and he would play basketball. He had a little ball. And my son told me last night, ‘Dad, I won’t be able to play basketball no more.’ The kids are traumatized.”