The Video That Shocked New York
July 27, 2026 THE BRONX, NY Disturbing surveillance footage released by the United Bodegas of America (UBA) captures the sheer terror that unfolded just before 5:00 p.m. outside the Wanda Deli on Elliot Place.
The video shows a typical summer scene: seniors strolling past and children playing on the sidewalk. Suddenly, a fistfight erupts in the middle of the street. Seconds later, a man wearing a black baseball cap, white T-shirt, and black shorts pulls a handgun from his waistband and fires directly into the crowd before fleeing the scene on foot.
"Every parent in New York should be devastated. We owe this family more than prayers. We owe them action."
— Radhames Rodriguez, President of United Bodegas of America
Inside the deli, panic took over. Customers knocked over food displays and dove behind counters as gunfire rattled through the doorway.
Wounded while riding his bike to buy a ball, young Jacob ran inside the store for shelter. Video footage shows the boy clutching his shoulder in desperation before collapsing near the front counter.
Tragic Loss and Miraculous Survivals
Officers from the 44th Precinct arrived to find Jacob suffering from a severe gunshot wound to the shoulder. EMS rushed the child to Lincoln Hospital, where medical staff were unable to save him.
Two other victims were struck during the shooting spree:
Both surviving victims made their way to BronxCare Health System, where they remain in stable condition. Police confirmed that Jacob was not the intended target of the gunfire.
Cops Nab Suspect Outside Bronx Home
Following a swift investigation aided by community tips and a combined $15,000 reward offered by the UBA and the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, detectives closed in on the alleged shooter.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest, confirming that 45-year-old William Ferrer was taken into custody right outside his Bronx residence.
"NYPD detectives have arrested William Ferrer for the murder of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes and the shooting of two others," Tisch stated. "Jacob was an innocent bystander on his bike when he was taken from his family in an act of senseless gun violence. No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss."
Ferrer faces a battery of severe criminal charges, including:
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Murder in the Second Degree
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Manslaughter in the First Degree
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Attempted Murder in the Second Degree
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Assault in the First and Second Degree
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Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
"I Am Beyond Sick of This": Community Leaders React
The brutal killing of a child in broad daylight has unleashed a wave of grief and fury across the city.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered his condolences to the Freytes family while calling for structural safety for the city's youth, noting that children should be able to ride their bikes in their own neighborhoods without fearing for their lives.
