Crime & Justice
New York’s Mom’s PhD Graduation Turns Tragic as Teen Daughter Struck by Stray Bullet
Jennifer Talbot, who had just received her PhD, described the heartbreaking turn of events after her 17-year-old daughter was critically wounded in Baychester on Saturday.
A Bronx, New York mother’s proudest day quickly descended into heartbreak when her teenage daughter was struck in the face by a stray bullet — just hours after the mother received her PhD.
Jennifer Talbot, a Bronx native who had just earned her doctorate in mental health and psychology from Heart Bible International University, was celebrating her academic milestone at a gala in Connecticut on Saturday when she received a call that shattered her world. Her 17-year-old daughter had been critically wounded during a burst of gunfire in Baychester.
“I was awarded during the ceremony and it was the biggest achievement of my life — proving to people that in spite of everything, you do exist, and you can do it,” Talbot told The New York Post on Sunday. “But a day for celebration became a day of my worst nightmare.”
Bronx shooting : Gunfire Erupts at Basketball Tournament
According to police sources, the teen was one of five victims caught in a gang-related shooting. The incident erupted around 5:30 p.m. near Haffen Park in the Baychester section of the Bronx. The gunfire broke out during a neighborhood basketball tournament, sending spectators scrambling for safety.
A 32-year-old man was killed, and three other individuals — including Talbot’s daughter — were wounded. Police believe the teen was not the intended target but was instead struck by a stray bullet while standing outside.
She was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in critical condition.
Bronx shooting causes daughter to be hit by a stray bullet
Talbot described the devastating scene when she arrived at the hospital.
“When I get there at the hospital, I see my daughter on a hospital bed with a tracheostomy tube, half her head shaved off, a bullet lodged in her eye with a patch, and her head swollen twice the size,” she said. “They were telling me that I may be having to adjust myself to say goodbyes.”
Miraculously, doctors informed her the following morning that they wanted to proceed with a blood transfusion — a sign that there was still hope.
“But, so to God’s grace and prayer and everything else, they called me this morning and told me they want to give her a blood transfusion,” Talbot said, holding on tightly to faith.
A Daughter’s Love and Missed Moment
Talbot revealed that her daughter had been heartbroken about missing the graduation ceremony. Although she couldn’t attend in person, the teen called her mother seven times throughout the day to ask how it was going.
“She felt bad because she didn’t get to come, and I kept telling her, ‘You should be here,’” Talbot recalled. “But I told her I couldn’t finish speaking to you because I was in the middle of graduation.”
That was the last conversation the two shared before the shooting.
Investigation and Arrests in the Bronx Shooting
The NYPD confirmed that four suspects were taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Formal charges had not yet been announced as of Sunday. The investigation is ongoing.
Officials say they are working to bring justice to the victims and restore safety to the community.