John Nunez, 16, died early Monday in Morrisania as detectives examined whether a firearm discharged while two teenagers were handling it.
NEW YORK — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot early Monday inside a Bronx home, and police were questioning another teenager as investigators worked to determine whether the shooting happened while the two were handling a firearm.
Police identified the victim as John Nunez. Officers responded shortly after 5:10 a.m. Aug. 10 to a residence at 1346 Prospect Ave. in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, where they found Nunez with a gunshot wound. Emergency medical workers pronounced him dead at the scene. Authorities had not announced a final determination on how the shooting occurred as of Tuesday morning.
Detectives believe Nunez and another 16-year-old may have been handling a gun when it discharged, according to reports citing police and law enforcement sources. ABC7 New York reported that the second teenager left the apartment after the shooting and was later located Monday afternoon for questioning. Police had not publicly announced charges against him.
Early reports differed on how firmly investigators had classified the shooting. CBS News New York cited police sources who described it as accidental, while News 12 reported that an NYPD spokesperson could not confirm that determination. The New York Post also cited law enforcement sources who said the shooting appeared to have happened while the teenagers were handling the weapon. The circumstances remained under investigation.
Police had not publicly explained where the firearm came from or how the teenagers obtained it. Authorities also had not said who was holding the gun when it discharged. Those questions remained central to the investigation as detectives interviewed people connected to the home and worked to establish the sequence of events.
Nunez’s older sister, Sol Nunez, told local news outlets that her brother had been visiting a close friend when the shooting happened. She said the two teenagers had known each other for a long time and that the family was still waiting for investigators to determine exactly what occurred inside the home.
His family described Nunez as a caring and cheerful teenager who was preparing for his senior year at Metropolitan High School. His sister told the New York Post that he enjoyed baseball and video games and had spoken about eventually joining the military. She said relatives were devastated by his death.
News 12 initially reported that police were looking for a male who had fled the residence after the shooting and that no arrests had been made. Later Monday, ABC7 reported that a 16-year-old boy sought by investigators had been located and was being questioned. No publicly available report reviewed Tuesday morning indicated that criminal charges had been filed.
Police continued investigating the shooting Tuesday, including how the firearm came into the teenagers’ possession and the events immediately before it discharged. Authorities had not announced a final finding on whether Nunez’s death was accidental or whether anyone would face charges.
Author note: Last updated August 11, 2026.