A 16-year-old boy surrendered to police to face charges in the murder of another teen in the Bronx. Kalvin Veloz turned himself in on Tuesday and was charged with murder for allegedly shooting 15-year-old Riley Billingsley inside a fifth-floor apartment on Claflin Avenue near West 197th Street in Kingsbridge Heights around 5:20 p.m. on August 12, according to authorities.
Billingsley’s grandmother, Elaine Rogers, expressed gratitude for Veloz's surrender, stating, "I’m definitely grateful that this young man turned himself in. Whatever reason he had to turn himself in…the fact that he turned himself in is beautiful."
The incident reportedly occurred when a group of teens were gathered in a bedroom. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that Veloz produced a firearm from his backpack, loaded it, and made a statement before shooting Billingsley in the head, killing him instantly.
Rogers recounted the moment she received the news of her grandson's death, saying, "I couldn’t comprehend what they were saying, you know? ‘He’s been shot.’ I couldn’t grasp their words." She also shared that Billingsley’s last words to her were, "See you later, G-Ma."
A second victim, a 13-year-old boy, was grazed in the chest by a ricocheted bullet. Investigators believe the shooting was intentional, with Kenny stating, "We believe that his intention was to shoot." The younger victim reported seeing a dispute between Billingsley and Veloz before the shooting occurred.
Kenny described Veloz as "a little bit of a hot head, a little bit of a bully" and noted a previous incident where he allegedly burned another juvenile victim. Veloz has been charged with attempted murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held without bail during his arraignment in Bronx Supreme Criminal Court. Rogers expressed her desire for justice, saying, "Definitely, I want justice for Riley. I hope [the shooter] gets the help he needs behind bars."