Two Suspects Face Murder Charges After Bronx Girl Shot in Park
A 13-year-old boy and a 26-year-old man were arrested in connection with an October shooting that left a 12-year-old girl with a fractured foot and colon injuries.
By Natalia Costa ·
A 12-year-old girl was hospitalized with abdominal and leg injuries after being struck by a stray bullet in the Bronx last month. Police have now arrested two suspects, including a 13-year-old boy, in the October 10 incident.
The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. at a park on Tratman Avenue between Rowland Street and St. Peters Avenue. The victim was walking to meet a friend when gunfire erupted. Law enforcement sources indicated that the shooters targeted a rival group and shouted "Ewok! Ewok!" while firing. This chant is associated with the Makk Ballas, a street gang linked to the Bloods.
The girl, who was three days from her birthday, suffered bullet wounds to her stomach and right foot. She required surgery to repair holes in her colon and to treat a fractured foot. A passerby drove her to Montefiore Hospital. Her 14-year-old sister, Miral Alamouri, was on the phone with her immediately after the shots were fired.
"I got shot! Oh, I'm scared," the girl reportedly said to her sister. Miral stated that she tried to keep the younger sibling awake to prevent her from slipping into a coma. Miral noted that the incident illustrates how often bystanders are caught in crossfire. "It's always the wrong person at the wrong time, and that shouldn't be happening," she said.
Police arrested the 13-year-old boy on Saturday and Destin Burgess, 26, on Tuesday. Both face charges of attempted murder and gun possession. A court complaint in Bronx Criminal Court states that neither defendant is accused of firing the actual shots. Two other individuals, including the suspected gunman, remain at large.
Investigators recovered a black and tan Palmetto Armory pistol under the front tire of a car parked near the scene. They also found seven loose live 9mm cartridges and one additional live round. Burgess has a prior arrest for gun possession in August 2025.
A judge set Burgess's bail at $15,000 cash or a $45,000 bond. This amount is lower than the $300,000 cash or $900,000 bond requested by prosecutors. His next court date is scheduled for Friday before a grand jury. The 13-year-old's case is currently being handled in Family Court.
