Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Tuesday, May 17, that a Bronx teen has been charged with the murder and attempted murder in the fatal, daylight shooting in Mott Haven last month of 16-year-old, Angellyh Yambo, as well as the injuring of two other high school students during the same incident.

 

According to the prosecution’s investigation, and as previously reported by Norwood News, on April 8, at approximately 1:40 p.m. in front 510 East 156th Street in Mott Haven, the defendant, Jeremiah Ryan, 17, of the Bronx, allegedly engaged in a verbal dispute with two men and pulled out a gun.

 

Ryan allegedly fired at least six shots, striking Angellyh, 16, as well as a 17-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl who were with her. The bullet struck Angellyh in her upper back, piercing her lung and pulmonary artery, causing her death. One of the surviving victims was shot in the left leg, and the other teen sustained a gunshot wound to the left buttocks. The three victims were innocent bystanders walking home from school when they were shot. Ryan allegedly fled the scene and was apprehended later that day.

 

Clark said Ryan was arraigned on Tuesday on second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder in the second degree, first-degree manslaughter, two counts of first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Naita Semaj. The defendant was remanded in custody, and he is due back in court on July 21.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John Miras, counsel in the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the Trial Division, and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the Trial Division.

 

In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “On a Friday afternoon, the defendant allegedly fired multiple shots and fatally struck Angellyh Yambo near her high school. The shooting also left two 17-year-old high school students wounded, and a community devastated and traumatized. We mourn the death of this promising young woman and pray for the two teens who survived.”

She continued, “The defendant, sadly, is also 17 years old, and he allegedly used a ‘ghost gun,’ a firearm made from components purchased online, with no serial numbers so that they are not traceable. These weapons are a major threat to public safety and are being used in crimes more and more in our city.”

 

As reported, Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Sewell, and the gun safety group, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, recently called on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to revoke the federal firearms license of Polymer80, a ghost gun part supplier. A statement from the Mayor’s office read, “Ghost guns have been a growing contributor to gun violence in New York City and Polymer80 is, by far, the largest source of ghost guns used in crimes and recovered by law enforcement nationally.”

 

On Wednesday, May 11, Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement in support of Adams’ call, saying in part, “Gun violence is a public health and public safety crisis, and all levels of government must continue working together on aggressive action to crack down on the distribution and possession of dangerous weapons.” On Saturday, May 14, as reported by NPR, a white, 18-year-old gunman allegedly carried out a racist attack at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., a city with which the governor has strong ties, killing 10 people and injuring three others, according to authorities. Almost all of the victims were Black. 

 

#polymer80 #p80 #engageyourfreedom #bbskits pic.twitter.com/OYm9kSpv17

— Polymer80 (@Polymer80inc) December 17, 2020

 

Last December, Polymer80, released a statement on Twitter, saying in part, “Out of an abundance of caution, while we continue to gather information and assess changing circumstances, Polymer80 has voluntarily suspended all sales and assembly of ‘Buy Build Shoot Kits.’ ATF has recently taken the position that the Buy Build Shoot Kits constitute, among other things, “firearms” under federal law. Polymer80 has worked responsibly and diligently over this past week to gather pertinent data and assess ATF’s new apparent stance on those kits.”

 

The statement continued, “Unfortunately, Polymer80 has had only limited information made available to it. Nevertheless, we strongly disagree with ATF’s stated position and are prepared to take every step necessary and appropriate to address it.” The company went on to talk about its support of the use of arms and second amendment rights. Norwood News reached out to the company for comment on the mayor’s latest call to revoke the company’s firearms license. We will update this story upon receipt of any feedback we receive.

 

Family and friends of Angellyh, who had just turned 16 in January, gathered at Williams Funeral Home, Inc. at 5628 Broadway and West 232nd Street in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx on Tuesday, April 12, for the teen’s viewing as part of her funeral service.

 

Present on the day was Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, who had previously released a statement on hearing of Angellyh’s death, saying, “As I have always said, the level of violence we are seeing in our neighborhoods is not normal and is unacceptable. Our community has a fundamental right and expectation to be safe and should not have to live in fear of incessant gun violence.”

 

She added, “I pray that the person or people responsible [for Angellyh’s death] are caught and held responsible for their actions. I also want to send prayers of healing and strength to the families of the victims during this very difficult time.”

 

The funeral viewing was filled to capacity with families, friends, classmates, loved ones, teachers, friends and police officers. Many were hugging each other and crying. In a statement, Mary Hernandez, a Throggsneck resident and aunt to the victim, said, “I’m not sure why President Biden has allowed for these ghost guns to be assembled from ‘Buy Build Shoot Kits’ on the internet. My Angellyh would be alive today if all these protective measures were in place.”

 

She continued, “Our streets in The Bronx are not safe, the criminals are not afraid since these laws protect the perpetrators more than the victims. Why are these ghost guns so accessible to people who are not afraid to go jail? They need to add 25 years to every person who uses a ghost gun to kill someone no matter their age or no past criminal history.”

 

As reported, President Joe Biden addressed the issue of ghost guns when he visited New York in February, just days after police announced they were searching for a gunman following the daylight shooting of a man in Norwood in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 47 East Gun Hill Road and Dekalb Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 22, and the separate shooting of a man on the 4th floor of a building at 3211 Parkside Place in Norwood on Thursday, Jan. 27.

 

At the time, Northwest Bronx communities were also still reeling from the shooting of now one-year-old Baby Catherine in the face in Bedford Park on Wednesday, Jan. 19, while the infant was sitting in a car with her mother, along with news on Jan. 26 from the Office of the Bronx District Attorney that a 23-year-old Bronx man, a student at a Tennessee university, had been charged the same day with gun trafficking across state lines, among other serious charges. As reported, Baby Catherine has since been released from hospital but the shooter is still at large.

 

Among the measures discussed to curb gun violence during the president’s visit, was the importance of more funding for mental health support so that police would not, for example, be required to talk down people with mental health problems in risky situations, post-incarceration support for people in terms of jobs and housing, restricting access to certain assault weapons which, the president said, should not affect people’s second amendment rights, passing universal background checks, curbing gun trafficking, and imposing federal charges, in addition to state and local charges, for those who would commit crimes using ghost guns.

 

"We have been made aware of yet another tragic shooting in our borough. Two teenage girls and one teen boy were shot earlier today in the Bronx. We are currently in contact with the NYPD and the Mayor's Office awaiting additional information to share with the public.” pic.twitter.com/Ws7XX9gDTi

— Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson (@bronxbp) April 8, 2022

 

A representative of the family said on the day of the viewing, itself, they had been unable to go to court in connection with the case but had planned to be there for the next hearing.

 

In an obituary posted to the website, tributearchive.com, Angellyh was described as an extraordinary young lady. “To encounter Angellyh is to experience magic.” She was described as having a heart of gold and a pure soul. “She brought so much love, joy, laughter, and light to this world and [to] her loved ones.”

 

The tribute continued, in part, “Ohhhh by the way, she loved her hot CHEETOS. Angellyh also loved to listen to music and watch scary movies.” The tribute went on to say that her tragic death had left her loved ones in disbelief. “Gun violence came close to home and it was a total nightmare. Angellyh Marieh Yambo, you will forever be missed.”

 

Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Brianna Constantino and Edwin Ayala of the 40^th precinct for their work on the case.

         

A person arrested and charged with a crime is innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story referred to Angellyh’s aunt as Mary Henriquez rather than Mary Hernandez. This has since been corrected. We apologize for this error.