A 16-year-old girl died after she was shot in the head while near a school in the Bronx, police confirmed.
The gunfire rang out near the corner of Home Street and Tinton Avenue in Morrisania just after 5 p.m. Monday, according to police, near The Bronx Latin School building.
According to preliminary information from multiple law enforcement sources, two groups of teens were arguing near the school before a brawl broke out. A gun was allegedly passed over to one of the teens involved in the fight, and shots were fired into the crowd, police said.
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WATCH HEREAt least one of the bullets struck the 16-year-old in the head as she was riding her scooter, leaving her gravely injured.
"When the shots are fired, who we believe to be an unintended target is struck and she immediately falls to the ground with a gunshot wound to the head as the other children run away for their lives," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. "She is not engaged in the fight and immediately walks over to another male at the edge of the group who attempts to pull her to a brick wall for cover."
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SIGN UP She was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, where she later died, the NYPD confirmed. The teen was later identified as Evette Jeffrey, who officials said was a student at nearby Morris High School.
Police said she was killed by a stray bullet while she was in a school yard. The NYPD was said to be searching for a 14-year-old person of interest in the shooting, but no arrests had yet been made.
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It was unclear whether the teens involved in the fight were students at the school where it occurred.
An investigation is ongoing.
