BRONX, NEW YORK — Darrell Harris, a 17-year-old teenager, was tragically shot dead on Tuesday evening during what began as a playful water gun fight in Starlight Park but spiraled into deadly violence when real bullets flew.
A Deadly Turn
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. when Harris was doused with water from a gel-pellet gun during a fight with another boy.
According to police sources, Harris, who was near Sheridan Boulevard and 173rd Street in the Crotona Park section of the Bronx, charged at the boy who sprayed him.
However, before the situation could be de-escalated, the boy’s nearby friend pulled out a real firearm and opened fire.
Harris was struck in the back of the head and his right arm, collapsing as a crowd of teens gathered around the scene. He was rushed to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi in critical condition, but tragically passed away from his injuries.
A Mother’s Heartbreak
Harris’s mother, Kelli Lewis, 48, spoke to reporters on Wednesday, expressing her devastation. She revealed that her son, who was rarely outside, had promised to return home by 9 p.m. that evening.
“That is the most shocking part of it because he is not really outside,” said a heartbroken Lewis. “The one time he does ask to go outside and this transpires.”
Harris had told his mom he was going to the park to join his friends for the water gun fight. It was a hot day, and the heat wave had made the idea of playing in the water enticing for local kids.
Grief Strikes Again
In a tragic twist, Lewis’s other son, Jamal Hunter, was celebrating his 20th birthday when the shooting occurred. Hunter was tragically killed in 2021 at the age of 27, shot on a street in the Bronx.
Now, her family has been shattered once again.
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Lewis described Harris as a good kid who attended Bronx Leadership Academy High School and had no enemies. “He wasn’t a child who was out running in the streets or hanging out. That’s not who he was,” she said.
The Shooter and Evidence
According to police, the gunman, possibly wearing a ski mask, fled the scene along with the person who had wielded the water gun. Investigators later recovered a knife, four shell casings, and multiple water guns from the blood-soaked scene.
Despite the ongoing investigation, as of Tuesday afternoon, the shooter remained at large.
A Mother’s Plea
In the aftermath of her son’s death, Lewis expressed the pain caused by such senseless violence.
“That’s what these kids don’t realize when they pick up these weapons,” she said, her voice breaking. “You take someone’s life, but the whole family is affected by a decision that you made so quickly. That wasn’t necessary.”
The Community and Law Enforcement’s Efforts
The community remains in shock over the tragic incident. Local authorities continue their investigation, hoping to bring the shooter to justice.
Harris’s death is another devastating reminder of the dangers that can arise from heated confrontations, even those that start as innocent fun.
What Do You Think?
Do you think more should be done to prevent violence among youth in local parks and public spaces? How can communities better address conflicts before they escalate into something deadly? Share your thoughts in the comments below on RidgecrestPact.org.
