13-year-old Bronx boy arrested in April stray bullet murder sentenced to juvenile facility.

A 13-year-old boy has been ordered to remain in a juvenile facility without bail following his arrest for the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man with a stray bullet outside a convenience store in the Bronx. This ruling comes as the Bronx District Attorney’s office continues to build a comprehensive case against him. Instead of being transferred to Family Court, the boy faced arraignment at Bronx Criminal Court, where he was charged with murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, and weapon possession—all categorized under juvenile offenses.

The teen, who has not been publicly identified due to his age, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, May 23, in connection with the shooting death of Daoud “David” Marji on April 23. Marji was reportedly returning to Unk Candy and Grocery, located on University Avenue near West Kingsbridge Road, when he was struck in the head by a stray bullet at approximately 4:55 p.m. Footage from surveillance cameras indicates that he collapsed just outside the store where he previously worked.

In a related incident, a second victim, 33-year-old Tania Tubon, sustained a bullet wound to the hip during the same shooting event. Reports indicate that the assailant and three accomplices, dressed in ski masks and dark sweatsuits, fled the scene in a gray Honda Civic, and as of now, the accomplices remain at large.

This incident marks a concerning trend, as the 13-year-old suspect is the third juvenile under the age of 14 to be arrested in the Bronx this month for killing a bystander with a stray bullet. Two weeks prior, two other boys, aged 13 and 14, were similarly apprehended for the shooting death of 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey, just three and a half miles from the location of Marji’s death.

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, a troubling total of 28 children under the age of 18 have been victims of gun violence throughout New York City this year, while 17 adolescents have been arrested for firearm-related offenses. Tisch commented on the alarming nature of these incidents, referring to the tragic scenario as “babies killing babies,” emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to curb this disturbing trend.

As the judicial process unfolds for this young suspect, community leaders and law enforcement officials continue to grapple with the pressing issue of youth violence in the city. Media News Source reports that the societal implications of these events are profound, as neighborhoods are left to question the safety and future of their youth in an environment increasingly marred by gun-related incidents.