President Trump Comforts Grieving Parents
During a speech in Long Island, New York, President Donald Trump took a moment to step off the stage and offer comfort to the grieving family of Jacob Fraites, a 12-year-old boy who lost his life to a stray bullet in the Bronx.
While addressing law enforcement at the Nassau County Police Academy, Trump spoke about Jacob, who was shot while riding his bicycle outside a warehouse late last month. “A 12-year-old named Jacob Fraites was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet fired by a repeat offender during a gunfight,” he said.
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt shared a video of the poignant moment on social media. “In a beautiful, impromptu moment, President Trump stepped off the stage to embrace Migdalia Martinez, her son Jacob, and retired NYPD sergeant Jesus Freites,” she wrote.
Before he approached the family, Trump mentioned Jacob while outlining his administration’s strategies to tackle crime. “Jacob is the son of a loving mother and a former NYPD detective, and they’re great people. I think I heard you might be with us today. Are you with us?” he said, signaling his support.
Once he reached them, Trump gave a heartfelt hug to Jacob’s mother, Migdalia Martinez, and her father. Returning to the podium, he expressed his disbelief at the tragedy, saying, “It’s horrible. How horrible. But we go after them. They are bad, sick people.”
The impact of Jacob’s death has led to Republicans proposing “Jacob’s Law” in the New York State Legislature, aiming to implement stricter penalties for criminals whose reckless behavior results in a child’s death.
Migdalia, reflecting on the tragic day, recalled her final moments with Jacob, stating, “I kissed him, I left, and we always have a little dolphin kiss, and I left and went to work.” She vividly remembered the harrowing phone call that informed her of the tragedy and the rush to reach him, only to find her son gone.
In connection with the incident, police have arrested William Ferrer, 45, who faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder. Ferrer has a long history of arrests spanning over 25 years, with previous offenses such as drunk driving and drug possession.
