The 14-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting an innocent 16-year-old girl as she rode her scooter into a Bronx schoolyard brawl this week was ordered held behind bars during his hospital-bed arraignment Thursday.
The teen, facing a second-degree murder charge in connection to the death of Morris High School freshman Evette Jeffrey, was dressed in red pants and a black T-shirt and sat on a hospital bed as he appeared on a screen in the courtroom.
The violent youngster – whose name was not officially released because he is a juvenile offender – pleaded not guilty to the Monday evening deadly shooting through his Legal Aid attorney Francis White, who sat by his side.
“The defendant fired numerous shots on school grounds in the direction of approximately 20 school-age children,” Assistant District Attorney Timothy Collins said. “The defendant struck an innocent bystander, a 16-year-old girl, in the head. The incident is on video. The defendant has been identified as the shooter.”
Despite his tender age, the alleged gunman had already racked up a previous assault charge on his rap sheet, Collins said.
Judge Gayle P. Roberts agreed to order the teen held without bail to ensure that he returns to court, “given the very serious nature of the incident allegations, and as well as his family court findings.”
He also faces charges of attempted murder, manslaughter and three weapon possession-related offenses, according to the complaint. He is set to reappear in court on Friday.
The boy allegedly used a semi-automatic pistol during the early evening melee outside 800 Home Street in Morrisania, which houses three schools — Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science and Science Charter School, Bronx Latin and Bronx Career and College Preparatory High School.
Investigators believe the daylight mayhem was sparked by a feud between street gangs – the Forest Over Everything crew and an upstart gang calling itself Kreep On Davidson, based at the Davidson Houses public housing complex, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said earlier this week.
“The victim, Evette Jeffrey, was not involved in this dispute,” the police official said. “She was an innocent bystander who was simply trying to take cover behind the brick wall and was struck in the head by one of the rounds.”
The gun-toting teen callously took off after the fatal shooting – but was busted the next morning as he tried to get into a taxi, Kenny said.
Relatives said Evette was celebrating her one-year anniversary with her also-16-year-old boyfriend at a Chinese restaurant after school on Monday and decided to stop at the playground – where she found herself in the line of fire.
“She died here,” the girl’s grandma previously told The Post. “They were just going to revive her, but she died here.”
“She’s forever 16,” the tearful grandmother said. “That’s it.”
She couldn’t bring herself to forgive the young shooter who took her granddaughter’s life.
“I don’t forgive you,” she sobbed. “I hold your family responsible because they should be watching you. Whoever handed you [the gun] or had it, I will never forgive you.”
“They could say I’m sorry a million times, and I’ll never forgive any of you.”
Police are still looking for a 12-year-old boy who they believe handed a gun to the shooter, sources said.
