President Donald Trump showcased his caring nature when he stepped off the stage in the middle of a speech in New York to provide comfort for the family of a 12-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx. President Trump was delivering an address to the Nassau County Police Academy when he mentioned the young boy, Jacob Freytes, who was killed in July by a stray bullet while he was sitting on his bike outside a bodega.
“In a beautiful impromptu moment, President Trump exits the stage in the middle of his speech to embrace Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sergeant Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son Jacob was tragically killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a social media post after the moment was captured on video.
Before he left the stage to comfort the parents, Trump mentioned Freytes while discussing his administration’s work to help lower the crime rate in the country. “Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy named Jacob Freytes — You read about this one? — was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet fired by a repeat offender in a gun battle,” Trump said.
According to a report from Fox News, the president then added, “Jacob was the son of a loving mom and a retired New York City police detective, and they are incredible people, and I think I heard that they may be with us today. Are you with us?” Trump then left the stage and hugged Migdalia Martinez, eyes brimming with tears, and the young boy’s father, retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes, speaking a few private words to them.
“Incredible. Horrible story. What a horrible thing,” he said after returning to the stage. “But we’re going after them. These are bad, sick people.” Freytes’ tragic death inspired Republicans to introduce “Jacob’s Law” in the state legislature. The bill would place harsher penalties on criminals whose reckless actions result in the death of a child.
“I gave him a kiss, and I walked out, and we always do a little dolphin kiss. And I walked out and went to work,” Martinez said in an interview on Fox & Friends. “Around five o’clock, they called me and said that he had gotten shot. And all I could do was try to think of different ways to get here faster. When I got there, I just seen my boy gone.”
Local law enforcement officials arrested William Ferrer, 45, who now faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder for Freytes’ death. Ferrer has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Unsurprisingly, Ferrer has a lengthy arrest record that goes back over 25 years. Some of the charges on his rap sheet include drunk driving, drug possession, menacing, and criminal contempt.
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Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch commented on the incident in a post published on X, writing, “Jacob was an innocent bystander on his bike when he was taken from his family yesterday in an act of senseless gun violence. No arrest can ever ease the pain of this unimaginable loss, but the NYPD will continue to do everything in our power to seek justice for Jacob.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video