New York City police are continuing their search for a teenage suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Riley Billingslea, as family members and friends gathered for a vigil to remember the teenager and appeal for answers.
The shooting occurred on August 12 inside a fifth-floor apartment at 2825 Claflin Avenue in the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx. Police responding at approximately 5:23 p.m. found Riley with a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
A second victim, a 13-year-old boy, was also injured in the shooting. Police said he suffered a graze wound to his torso and was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition.
Investigators are searching for a 16-year-old suspect who allegedly fled after the shooting. According to local reporting citing police sources, the shooting followed a dispute inside the apartment. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances and have not announced an arrest.
Nearly a week after Riley’s death, relatives, friends and community members gathered Tuesday night for a vigil in his memory. His family said they are still seeking answers about what happened and appealed for anyone with information to assist investigators.
The killing has left Riley’s family and the surrounding Kingsbridge Heights community mourning as the NYPD works to locate the suspect and establish the full sequence of events that led to the shooting.
