A 17-year-old girl, Anthonaya Campbell, tragically lost her life on Monday, two weeks after being critically injured in a gang-related shooting at a basketball tournament in the Bronx. The incident, which occurred on August 23 at Haffen Park, also claimed the life of a 32-year-old man and left three others injured. Campbell, who was a spectator at the late-summer basketball game, was shot in the face and had been in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital until her death.
Campbell’s death has left her community in shock and mourning. A heartfelt Facebook post by Boyde Yeremiyah, a friend from Alpha & Omega Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ Inc., expressed the devastation felt by those who knew her. The post called for an end to senseless shootings not only in the Bronx, but in communities across New York and the world.
Jennifer Talbot, Campbell’s mother, described her daughter as a joyful person who loved everyone and had a passion for helping others. Campbell was visiting friends in the city when the shooting occurred. The NYPD is treating her death as a murder.
The first victim of the shooting, Jaceil Banks, 32, was pronounced dead upon arrival at Jacobi Hospital. Three other adults were also injured during the incident, which saw dozens of shots fired as a summer basketball tournament was underway at Haffen Park.
Following the incident, four individuals, including two minors, were arrested and face serious charges in connection with the gang-related shooting. Daeven Reyes, 20; Robert Royal, 25; a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy have each been charged with murder, four counts of attempted murder, gang assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. With Campbell’s death, one of the attempted murder counts is expected to be upgraded to another count of murder.
The Bronx continues to grapple with violence, as another man was killed and four others were injured in a drive-by shooting last week. This incident was also reportedly gang-related.