Vigil held for 15-year-old found shot to death in Bronx apartment. Here's the latest on the investigation.
An emotional vigil was held Tuesday evening in the Bronx for Riley Billingslea, a 15-year-old who police say was found shot to death last week in a Kingsbridge Heights apartment building.
So far, there have been no arrests and family members still have no answers surrounding the circumstances of the boy's death.
The community, however, has responded. People gathered Tuesday outside of the Claflin Avenue building where Billingslea was found dead inside of a fifth-floor apartment last week. A 13-year-old old also suffered a graze wound.
They've also been praying and offering comfort to a family still struggling to understand how a teen with so much ahead of him could suddenly be gone.
"He's a great person. The fact that he's not here shatters me," friend Kelvin Garcia said.
Billingslea's family has described him as bright, respectful and determined, and a young man who dreamed of becoming an engineer.
Those who knew and loved him have since been trying to come to terms with his sudden death while demanding answers about what happened inside that apartment.
"Riley was a good child," mother Ketrice Riley said, adding of the shooter, "He took something special. He hurt me. He hurt the community."
"I would like for the young man to come forward. If it was an accident, however, please explain it. Come forward," added Elaine Rogers, Billingslea's grandmother. "And I want to say to the parents, if you're hiding him, let them go. Let him face justice for my grandson."
Rogers said if someone had called for help earlier, maybe her grandson could have been saved.
"He didn't deserve this, and for everybody to leave him in that apartment and not call for no help, that angers me," Rogers said. "I loved Riley. He was my love."
Billingslea's family is asking anyone who may know something about what happened to come forward.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
