Teenager, 15, Arrested in Bronx Shooting with Sawed-Off Shotgun Hidden in Pop-Tarts Box.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on Christmas Eve in the Bronx, during which he allegedly discharged a sawed-off shotgun at a rival on a city street. The details surrounding the event have raised significant concerns about youth violence and gun possession in urban areas. According to police reports, the incident took place just after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Longfellow Avenue and Aldus Street in Longwood.

Responding officers from the 41st Precinct learned that the young assailant fired at a 20-year-old man. Remarkably, the victim was not struck during the shooting, and shortly thereafter, the shooter fled the scene in a vehicle alongside another teenager. Within an hour, law enforcement officials located the vehicle approximately one mile away on Beck Street near Leggett Avenue.

Upon stopping the vehicle, police discovered the sawed-off shotgun, complete with electrical tape around its handle and a cardboard box typically used for Pop-Tarts taped to the muzzle. The 15-year-old was subsequently identified as the shooter and has been charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. His accomplice, a 16-year-old, faces charges related to weapons possession because the firearm was found in the car they occupied.

The motivations behind the shooting remain unclear, and due to the ages of both suspects, their identities have not been publicly disclosed. This incident occurs in the context of ongoing investigations related to another shooting that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old named Eric Aitken only days prior. Aitken was fatally shot in a dispute involving multiple teenagers in a housing complex.

Authorities suspect that the shooter involved in Aitken’s case may be as young as 13. As police continue to seek information about this separate incident, they are calling for the community’s assistance. Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski expressed profound sorrow over Aitken’s death, emphasizing the necessity for concerted efforts to combat gun violence among youth, underscoring that no family should endure such heartache.

In light of these events, the NYPD remains vigilant in their pursuit of proactive policing strategies aimed at reducing illegal firearm possession and ensuring community safety. Anyone with information relating to these cases is encouraged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS, with the assurance that all tips will be kept confidential.