Stray Bullet Kills Bronx Man on Walker, Shattering Neighborhood Peace
On a quiet Sunday evening in the Bronx, 57-year-old Kevin Jennings sat on his walker, likely taking in the familiar sights and sounds of his Fordham Heights neighborhood along East 188th Street and Marion Avenue. It was just before 7 p.m. on May 18, 2025, when the tranquility of the moment was shattered by the sharp crack of gunfire. In an instant, a stray bullet struck Jennings in the head, ending his life. A 34-year-old woman nearby was also hit, a bullet grazing her left leg. She survived, but the loss of Jennings marked yet another tragic chapter in a string of senseless shootings that have plagued the borough, leaving communities grappling with grief and fear.
Police from the 46th Precinct responded swiftly to the scene, arriving around 6:49 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about the shooting. Emergency medical services rushed both victims to St. Barnabas Hospital, where Jennings was pronounced dead. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was treated and listed in stable condition. Authorities have yet to make any arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing, with police combing through evidence to identify the shooter and determine the circumstances that led to the deadly gunfire.
Jennings, a resident of the Claremont Village section of the Bronx, was described by neighbors as a quiet, unassuming man who often used his walker to navigate the neighborhood. His death has sent shockwaves through the community, reigniting concerns about gun violence and the devastating toll it takes on innocent bystanders. The shooting occurred on the final day of Bronx Week 2025, a celebration of the borough’s culture and resilience, which included a parade and concert just hours earlier in Bedford Park. The juxtaposition of festivity and tragedy underscored the persistent challenge of curbing violence in the area.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern in the Bronx, where stray bullets have claimed lives with alarming frequency. Just weeks earlier, on April 24, 2025, 28-year-old Daoud Marji was killed by a stray bullet while walking to a store in Kingsbridge Heights. In another case, 16-year-old Evette Jeffrey was fatally shot in the head near a Morrisania school, an innocent bystander caught in a gang-related dispute. These incidents, among others, have heightened fears among residents, many of whom feel increasingly unsafe in their own neighborhoods.
The NYPD has faced mounting pressure to address the surge in gun violence. While shootings in the 46th Precinct, which covers Fordham Heights, have decreased by 17% through mid-May compared to the previous year, homicides remain a stubborn problem. Jennings’ death marks the precinct’s first fatal shooting of 2025, a grim milestone that has prompted calls for more robust community policing and intervention programs. Local leaders, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, have repeatedly emphasized the need for collective action, noting that the loss of any life to gun violence is a loss for the entire community.
Residents of Fordham Heights gathered near the site of the shooting on Monday, leaving flowers and candles in memory of Jennings. For many, the tragedy feels deeply personal, a reminder of the fragility of life in a city where gunfire can erupt without warning. As the investigation continues, the NYPD is urging anyone with information to come forward, offering anonymous tip lines to encourage community cooperation.
The death of Kevin Jennings is more than a statistic; it is a stark reminder of the human cost of gun violence. His life, like those of countless others, was cut short in a moment of chaos that he had no part in creating. For the people of the Bronx, the path forward requires not only justice for Jennings but also a sustained effort to ensure that no more lives are stolen by stray bullets.
