Two Arrested, Including 13-Year-Old, in Bronx Gang Shooting That Hit Girl, 12
A 13-year-old boy and a 26-year-old man face attempted murder charges in an October Bronx shooting that left a 12-year-old girl with stomach and foot wounds.
Two Suspects Charged in Gang-Linked Stray Bullet Shooting of 12-Year-Old in the Bronx
A 13-year-old boy and Destin Burgess, 26, have been arrested in connection with a gang-related shooting in the Bronx that left a 12-year-old girl with serious injuries, NY Post Metro reports. The teen was taken into custody Saturday; Burgess was picked up Tuesday. Both face charges of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
The shooting occurred on October 10 in Westchester Square, around 8:30 p.m., at a park on Tratman Avenue between Rowland Street and St. Peters Avenue. According to the NYPD, the gunmen opened fire after spotting nearby rivals, shouting "Ewok! Ewok!" — a chant linked to the Makk Ballas, also known as the Mac Ballers, a street gang tied to the Bloods. The 12-year-old was struck in the stomach and right foot.
She was just three days from her birthday when the bullets hit her.
A good Samaritan driving past the scene transported her to Montefiore Hospital. Her sister, Miral Alamouri, 14, said the girl called her immediately after being shot. "She was like, 'I got shot! Oh, I'm scared,' and I'm trying to keep her awake because you don't want her to go to sleep and get into a coma," Miral told The Post. Surgeons found holes in the girl's colon and performed a separate procedure on her fractured right foot.
"It's always the wrong person at the wrong time, and that shouldn't be happening," Miral said. "You go to the park to sit there and play with your friends, not to get shot."
According to a complaint filed in Bronx Criminal Court, neither the teen nor Burgess is accused of firing the shots. The suspected gunman and at least one other individual remain at large. A black and tan Palmetto Armory pistol was recovered under the front tire of a vehicle parked near the scene, along with seven loose 9mm cartridges and one additional live round.
Burgess, who was previously arrested on a gun possession charge in August 2025, was ordered held on $15,000 bail or $45,000 bond — well below the $300,000 cash or $900,000 bond prosecutors had requested. His next court appearance is set for Friday, before a grand jury.
The name of the 13-year-old was not released due to his age. The status of his case was not immediately clear, as it is being handled in Family Court.
Source: NY Post Metro