Weekend Shootings: 1 Dead, 9 Wounded

Four charged in Haffen Park shooting in Baychester

Officers and a detective stand at the entrance to Haffen Park after one person was killed and four others wounded on Saturday, August 23. -Photo courtesy of Instagram

Cops Closing in on Park Cold Case

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

August 26, 2025 

BRONX - A day after one person was killed and four others were wounded, police announced the arrest of four individuals—including two teenagers who reportedly wore ski masks as they opened fire on a crowd of people outside Haffen Park in Baychester.

According to police officials the shooting took place at 7:27 p.m. on August 23, at Burke Avenue and Wickham Avenue. Responding officers from the 47^th Precinct discovered a 32-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the chest and a 17-year-old female shot in the face.

Both victims were rushed to Jacobi Hospital where the 32-year-old male victim was pronounced deceased. The victim was later identified as Jaceil Banks, 32, of Summit Avenue. The unidentified 17-year-old female remains in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital.

Police would soon learn that three additional victims were transported to area hospitals in civilian vehicles. Police confirmed that a 30-year-old man was shot in the back and remains in “stable condition” at Jacobi. A 29-year-old woman was also shot in the back and is in stable condition at Jacobi. A fifth victim, a 42-year-old man was shot in the arm, and he is listed in stable condition at Montefiore Hospital.

Police announced that four suspects had been taken into custody following the shooting and the following day announced the arrests of Robert Royal, 25, of Nelson Avenue; Daeven Reyes, 20, of Riverdale Avenue as well as an unidentified 16-year-old and an unidentified 17-year-old male. All four were charged with murder, attempted murder, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

While the latest statistics provided by the NYPD show that the number of murders and shootings are down citywide, the latest figures for the 47^th Precinct show that from January 1 through August 17 there have been 8 homicides compared with 4 during the same time period in 2024, an increase of 100%.

The 47th Precinct reported 21 shootings so far this year compared with just 14 during the same time period in 2024.

In an unrelated case, police were reportedly inching closer to making an arrest in the July 2012 murder of Kemar Bryan Brooks, 14, who was shot to death inside of Heffen Park on July 26, 2012.

Crediting law enforcement officials, one published report stated police were working to extradite a member of the Bronx’s “Slut Gang” who they believe was responsible for the Brooks’ killing.

Meanwhile, the NYPD is reportedly looking for two gunmen who opened fire on another crowd when four teenagers were wounded near Westchester Square.

That shooting was reported at 4 p.m. on August 22, at 1401 Overing Street, which is down the block from Public School X-012, the Lewis and Clark School and a block away from the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance.

Police confirmed that a 13-year-old male was shot in the left leg, a 14-year-old female was shot in the left leg, a 14-year-old male suffered a graze wound to the right foot and a 15-year-old male suffered graze wounds to both legs. Police say that all the victims are expected to recover.