Detectives apprehended a suspect who allegedly killed a teenage girl in a brazen South Bronx shooting on Friday afternoon.
Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said that 17-year-old Jeremiah Ryan was charged early on April 9 with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Ryan allegedly shot Angellyh Yambo, 16, of East 156th Street, and two other teenagers at the corner of East 156th Street and Saint Ann’s Avenue, just steps away from the University Heights High School’s South Bronx Campus, at about 1:45 p.m. on April 9.
Sewell called Ryan’s alleged actions “an act of violence by an emboldened individual.”
“As I said yesterday, Angellyh Yambo had a bright future. She was doing everything right, and as I also said yesterday, NYPD detectives would apprehend the individual responsible for this crime and bring justice to her family,” Sewell said during a Saturday afternoon press conference outside the 40th Precinct stationhouse. “While Angellyh’s loved ones are devastated, we can pray that this arrest brings some sense of solace.”
Yambo was struck in the chest and later died of her injuries at Lincoln Hospital. Two other youths involved in the shooting — a 16-year-old girl shot in the chin, and a 17-year-old boy hit in the buttocks — were brought to Lincoln Hospital for treatment.
A preliminary investigation by officers from the 40th Precinct revealed that a suspect was standing on the southeast corner of the intersection and began gesturing to someone on the opposite side. The two allegedly began arguing, leading one of the suspects to pull out a gun and open fire shots in the westbound direction.
The stray bullets struck the three teens as they walked home from school, police officials said.
Assistant Chief Timothy McCormack, commander of the NYPD Patrol Borough Bronx Detectives Bureau, said Ryan was apprehended on Friday night and brought in for further questioning. He applauded the work of detectives and their investigative techniques that resulted in Ryan’s arrest, but he noted the investigation remains ongoing.
“This case is not finished yet,” McCormack said. “It’s just the beginning. We’re still processing crime scenes. We’re still doing work with Jeremiah.”
According to state Senator Luis Sepúlveda, whose district includes the University Heights neighborhood, the girl later identified as Yambo was from University Prep Charter High School, while the other victims shot attend Mott Haven Village Prep High School.
“While authorities are still investigating the incident, our community knows too deeply that once again, guns are bringing grief to our families and to our community,” Sepulveda said in a statement. “Families and community members of the Bronx emphasize concern that these types of incidents are happening in broad daylight. I have long warned that the gun violence situation in our state and community is a multi-factorial matter that needs to be treated as a public health emergency.”
Anyone with information regarding the homicide can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
This story was updated on April 9 at 1:15 p.m.
