NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Bronx community is reeling after 34-year-old Kelvin Mosquea was fatally shot outside the NYCHA Sack Wern Houses on Croes Avenue on Tuesday. Mosquea, rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, succumbed to his injuries following what police describe as a robbery turned homicide.

Authorities have arrested 15-year-old Daniel Martinez, who allegedly committed the killing while still wearing a state-issued ankle monitor stemming from prior armed robbery charges. Martinez faces a murder charge, and a second individual involved in the incident remains at large. Police say the teen approached Mosquea, accusing him of stabbing a friend, before shooting him in the chest. The incident is under investigation as potentially gang-related, though Martinez is not listed in NYPD gang databases, while Mosquea had known associations with the Black Stone Gorilla Gang.

This killing occurred amid a surge of gun violence in The Bronx, which has seen seven shootings since last Saturday, leaving four dead and a dozen injured. One recent incident included the mass shooting of 32-year-old Jaceil Banks during a basketball tournament at Haffen Park, which also critically injured a 17-year-old girl. Four suspects have been arrested in that case.

Mayor Eric Adams, accompanied by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, announced the deployment of 1,000 additional officers to patrol violent hotspots across the borough. Residents have expressed a mix of relief and concern, with some welcoming the increased police presence, while others cite deeper systemic issues, including poverty and gang recruitment among youth.

Martinez’s arrest highlights troubling gaps in the justice system. Despite multiple prior arrests for armed robbery and other crimes, he had repeatedly been released, often with bail or on his own recognizance. During his arraignment Friday for Mosquea’s murder, a judge ordered him held without bail.

Law enforcement sources note that overall shootings in The Bronx are down 30% this month, but high-profile, irregular incidents such as this have intensified public fear. For families and neighbors, the loss of Kelvin Mosquea is a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of crime and public safety in the borough.