Bronx mother blames lenient policies after 12-year-old killed by stray bullet

A 12-year-old boy, Jacob Freytes, died after a stray bullet hit him in the chest during a Saturday night altercation outside a Bronx corner store, while two additional people sustained injuries. Police identified 45-year-old William Ferrer as the gunman, and he was charged with murder, assault and weapons offenses. Migdalia Martinez, Jacob’s mother, contended that recent criminal-justice changes—such as reduced bail and the curtailment of stop-and-frisk—have emboldened offenders and left victims unprotected.

She criticized the courts for what she sees as leniency toward misdemeanors and urged the city to reinstate tougher measures. Mayor Zohran Mamdani reached out personally, and a GoFundMe page has raised almost $15,000 to aid the grieving family. Jacob’s father, retired NYPD detective Jesus Freytes, is working with the district attorney to secure a maximum sentence for the accused.