Teen Arrested in Fatal Bronx Shooting

A 15-year-old boy, identified as Daniel Martinez, has been arrested for his involvement in a deadly shooting this week amid a rise in violence in the Bronx. Authorities charged him with murder in connection with the death of 34-year-old Kelvin Moscare, which occurred outside the Bag Werne House on Tuesday.

Details about the incident suggest it may have stemmed from a robbery gone wrong. Sources indicate that the event took place around 1:10 PM when Martinez confronted Moscare outside a public housing building on Claus Avenue, accusing him of stabbing a friend.

Witnesses claim a second individual joined Martinez and shot Moscare in the chest as he attempted to flee the scene. Sadly, Moscare was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries.

Interestingly, the NYPD gang database does link Moscare to the Black Stone Gorilla Gang. Meanwhile, while Martinez isn’t on that database, some believe the act could have gang-related motivations.

Martinez was still wearing an ankle monitor due to a previous case when he was arrested for murder by a city sheriff’s deputy on Thursday. It’s worth noting that this young man had been arrested for armed robbery at least twice in the Bronx since last spring. In one incident on April 17, he allegedly stole a cellphone and wallet from someone on the street while accompanied by another boy who had a replica gun.

Then, on May 2, he and another minor displayed firearms, drawing more attention to their criminal behavior. Despite his history, he had been released on recognizance regarding both prior cases but was later held on a cash bail of $3,000 or a bond of $15,000 in this most recent incident.

He also faced charges linked to two armed robberies in Manhattan earlier in May, but law enforcement sources note he was returned to the Bronx due to ongoing issues. Following his murder charge in Bronx Court on Friday, Martinez was denied bail.

Moscare’s death is part of a worrying trend, as he was one of two individuals killed in separate shooting incidents across the area, with two others injured on the same day. In a separate event the following day, a tenant reportedly killed one person and injured three more in a dispute over a shared backyard.

This surge in violence prompted Mayor Eric Adams to announce a plan to deploy 1,000 police officers to patrol the Bronx over the upcoming weekend, aiming to address the escalating concerns over safety.