A 16-year-old was fatally shot in the Lower East Side on Friday, and he may have been killed over his jacket. According to police, the shooting occurred at the intersection of Rivington Street and Columbia Street around 9:10 p.m. Friday. Raphael Ward, 16, was shot in the chest; according to the Post, Ward ran into a nearby deli, announced he had been shot, and said he had been approached before that by a group who wanted his coat.
Ward was taken to Beth Israel Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. NBC added that investigators believe Ward was killed in what appeared to be a robbery or a dispute. There have been no arrests thus far, and the investigation is ongoing.
State Senator Daniel Squadron released this statement about the shooting:
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Raphael Ward. No parent should ever have to face the unspeakable tragedy of losing a child.
We must continue to work together as a community to fight the scourge of gun violence and make our homes and our streets safer for our families. From stronger gun laws to improved safety at NYCHA developments, we are reminded far too often that the time to act is now.
