Police say it happened after a fight broke out – the second such case in as many days.
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A 15-year-old was shot and killed on Wednesday in Eisenhower Parkon Long Island.
The police are investigating both shootings as gang-related, but so far, there is no evidence that the two are connected.
A place meant for child’s play, now marked by gunplay, after 15-year-old Jaden Pierre was struck by a single bullet to the chest inside Roy Wilkins Park, police say it all started when an argument escalated to a fight, followed by gunshots.
Pierre was rushed to a hospital, but he did not make it.
“I heard the shots go off, so I came running to see if everyone was okay, especially my friends, and I see a kid lying dead, and I know him from playing basketball. He’s a good basketball player,” said a witness.
It was just after 6 p.m. Thursday, this tragedy comes just a day after another deadly shooting on a playground involving teens, at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. where a 15-year-old also lost his life.
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Police believe both shootings are gang-related but so far not connected.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards says he spoke with Pierre’s family
“What words could you say? Jaden didn’t deserve this, said Richards. He did not deserve to be jumped, and unfortunately, people will lose on both sides, the perpetrators and the victim.”
Pierre and his friends from the Eagle Academy nearby would come to the park almost every day after school — to play basketball. On Thursday, something went wrong.
At one point, Pierre was surrounded by a group of teens and beaten before he was shot.
PIX11 attempted to speak with the family of the victim, but they are asking for privacy.
In the meantime, a makeshift memorial has been set up at the park where the teen was killed.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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