Authorities report that a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed during a large fight at a playground in the Bronx. A 17-year-old was also injured in the incident, suffering stab wounds to the stomach and shoulder.
Angel Mendoza was discovered with several stab wounds shortly after 7:30 PM on Tuesday at the Williams Bridge Oval Playground in Norwood, according to the NYPD. Despite being rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, he could not be saved.
The older boy was taken to Montefiore Medical Center by private means and is currently in stable condition, police confirmed.
As of late Tuesday, no arrests had been made, according to police reports.
A disturbing photo from the site captures a large blood stain on the ground, indicating where a group of teenagers had gathered.
Detectives were seen with flashlights searching the park that night, while multiple crime scene units were stationed nearby.
Several knives were reportedly found at the location.
A nearby business owner remarked that a bike group appeared agitated just before the brawl occurred, as they noticed some unruly individuals near the basketball area.
One 21-year-old resident expressed shock, sharing that the playground, which underwent a $10 million renovation in 2021, usually feels safe. “I don’t typically see wild incidents around here,” he said. “I mean, you might hear about something, but not stabbings, especially not involving kids.”
This isn’t the first violent incident at the playground; in 2021, a 14-year-old boy was attacked there, and back in May, an 18-year-old was shot and killed. Additionally, last June, a 66-year-old man was fatally stabbed in the same park.
