A 15-year-old named Jaden Pierre was shot and killed Thursday evening in what is believed to be a gang-related incident at a park in Queens where he frequently played basketball. Currently, authorities are still looking for the gunman.
Police arrived at the Nautilus Playground in Roy Wilkins Park in St. Albans after receiving a 911 call just before 6:20 p.m. They discovered Pierre with a gunshot wound to his torso.
He was quickly transported to Jamaica Hospital, but, unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
Videos circulating on social media depict a scuffle happening in the park, surrounded by onlookers, mostly children, recording the confrontation on their phones.
As loud gunshots rang out, chaos ensued, and people began to scream and flee from the scene.
Authorities indicated that Pierre seemed to be the intended target, and they are probing into the possibility of gang involvement in the shooting.
On what turned out to be an unusually warm evening, the park was filled with young visitors when the shooting occurred. Witnesses described hearing gunfire and then spotting the victim on the ground.
An individual named AJ, who often plays basketball at the park, recounted, “I heard the shot go off and ran out to make sure everyone was okay, especially my friends.” He expressed shock upon seeing the young victim, stating he “was a good basketball player” and a “cool kid.”
AJ further shared his disbelief, saying, “Stupid man. Don’t go on the streets. Just play basketball.” He conveyed that witnessing the aftermath left him “traumatized.”
As the investigation continues, no arrests have yet been made.
Another park visitor, Tony, initially thought the police presence was part of a training exercise until he understood the gravity of the situation. “It’s an anomaly around here. We’re seeing younger and younger people getting guns,” he lamented.
He added, “I think this is crazy. These kids can’t come to the playground and play. I think that’s ridiculous. Kids should be able to come to the playground and play. There’s nowhere else to play.”
Authorities confirmed that no arrests have been made as the investigation remains active.
