Neighborhood mourns 12-year-old fatally shot outside Bronx bodega

PARKCHESTER, The Bronx (WABC) -- It was a tough day in the Bronx for both the family of 12-year-old Jacob Fretyes and the NYPD. Freytes' father, a retired NYPD sergeant now has to see his son be laid to rest after being shot and killed.

Loved ones embraced the mother of 12-year-old Freytes outside the funeral home in Parkchester. It has been a painful and trying week for the family. Police officers stood guard outside the funeral home as the line stretched down part of the block.

The shooting has shocked and devastated the city.

The 12-year-old was killed by a stray bullet last Saturday afternoon while riding his bicycle outside a bodega in the Mount Eden section. Police say the alleged gunman, William Ferrer opened fire after a fight broke out on the street.

Freytes, an innocent bystander was hit in the chest and ran into the bodega looking for help.

His mother has told the press that her son looked up to his father and wanted to be a police officer just like him. She has voiced understandable concerns about the criminal justice system and how the city is being kept safe after losing her son to senseless gun violence.

Eyewitness News spoke with a friend of Freytes, who described him as a generous young man.

"I feel sad cause I was with him before it all happened. Me and him were just playing wiht a cone and a bat, then he was riding his bike, taking turns, then he asked - he told me that he'll be right back and he's gonna go buy a ball. I'm like 'alright, be careful,' and yeah, that's the last time I saw him," said the friend, "He comes down to my house every Christmas and he would give me like an action figure or something generous and I remember he bought me a gel blaster - his mom did and he brung it down to me and said 'here' and then we would be in the hallway just playing."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the funeral service on Saturday. He was also with the family recently at a vigil in the Bronx to condemn gun violence in the city.

Freytes' mother has also called for stricter laws requiring life in prison for anyone who recklessly kills a child with a gun.