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William Ferrer, 45, was arrested Sunday morning and charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, manslaughter, six counts of assault and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, according to the New York Police Department. Ferrer is accused of opening fire during an altercation outside Wanda Deli Grocery on Elliot Place near the Grand Concourse in the Mount Eden neighborhood Saturday afternoon, resulting in the death of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes.
Freytes was riding his bicycle near the bodega when gunfire erupted shortly before 5 p.m., and he was struck in the shoulder. He was transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Lincoln, where he was pronounced dead. Police characterized the child as an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.
Surveillance video released by United Bodegas of America captured the tragic incident, showing Freytes exiting the bodega after purchasing a ball and mounting his bicycle. Moments after gunfire erupted, the footage shows the boy running back inside while clutching his chest before collapsing to the floor as horrified customers witnessed the scene.
The shooting also wounded two additional men. A 34-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the foot, while a 25-year-old was struck in the buttocks, both in stable condition. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest Sunday, describing Freytes’ death as “an act of senseless gun violence.”
Ferrer has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1999, including prior arrests for drug possession, drunken driving, possession of stolen property, menacing and criminal contempt, according to law enforcement sources. The bodega where the shooting occurred was equipped with an emergency panic button, though the violence unfolded within seconds.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams both issued statements mourning Freytes’ death and calling for action against urban gun violence. Fernando Mateo, spokesman for United Bodegas of America, expressed frustration at the continued toll of firearms violence in New York City during a press conference at the shooting location.
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