Teen fatally shot outside NYC afterparty was future Navy recruit with a 'bright future,' family calls for justice
Share and Follow

The young man who was tragically shot and killed outside a Bronx party was described by his grieving family members as a beloved son and a promising Navy recruit with a bright future. They are pleading for justice in the case, which remains unsolved.

Eighteen-year-old Juan Jose Pena was fatally shot at approximately 1:25 a.m. on Sunday outside a gathering on Park Avenue near East 176th Street in the Tremont neighborhood, according to sources in law enforcement.

A black sedan pulled up to the venue, where someone inside exchanged words with the victim before opening fire, according to the sources. 

Juan, described as a recent graduate of Bronx Leadership Academy High School, had aspirations of joining the Navy. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

“I want justice for my son,” the slain teen’s mother, Anayeli Pena, told The Post in Spanish Tuesday. “They didn’t kill a dog, they killed a son with a future, with a bright future. I don’t want his death to go unpunished.”

“Justice is the only thing I can ask for,” she added. “What else can I ask for? I want them to pay for what they did to my son. They didn’t kill a dog. They killed a young boy full of live. They killed him and they also killed me alive.”

Days after the family was devastated with the news of Juan’s death, his mother’s living room turned into a tribute for her slain son – with photos of the teen, white roses and other flowers and assorted candles decorating a table. 

The second-oldest of four children, Juan was born in the Dominican Republic, according to his aunt, Shery Olivo, 35, a Dominican author. 

He had two sisters and one brother, and lived with his stay-at-home mother.

“He was a person full of love,” Olivo said. “He was a family boy. He always helped out in the house. For holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas – he was the one in the kitchen helping to prepare the family dinner, the turkey, the pig, diced up the potatoes.”

Juan was never a troublemaker and didn’t have any enemies, Olivo added. 

“He had never been in trouble, doesn’t have any criminal history, never been stopped by the cops, nothing,” Olivo said. “He always looked nice and clean. He loved to look nice and bougie . . . always dressed to impress.”

Juan “loved culinary arts,” and just three days before his tragic death, he visited his aunt – who lives on a different floor of the same building – to bring her food.

Olivo recalled her nephew telling her, “Tia, I’m good, I’m going into the Navy, I’m happy. I just took an exam.” 

She said she told him, “That’s the best thing you could do and I am proud of you and I know you are going to be a great soldier and a hero.”

Juan had hoped his career with the Navy would help him provide a future for his family and ultimately buy his mom a house, his aunt said. 

“He was a hero here to us,” Olivo said. “Imagine to serve this country… that’s one boy less [in] our military. Why? Because of [the] crime that’s happening. That’s not fair.”

“These public officials, they need to realize that the crimes are taking away tomorrow’s future,” she added. “It’s so sad at 18 years old. Your life begins when you are 18. They took his life away.”

No arrests had been made in connection to the teen’s murder by Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, Oivo urged the person responsible for the deadly shooting to “be a man” and surrender to cops. 

“The person who did this must pay with all the weight of the law. They are a danger to these streets.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Stream It Or Skip It?

Stream or Skip: Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing What to Watch Next

Netflix’s documentary, Breakdown: 1975, directed and produced by Morgan Neville, delves into…
Deckhand says he WAS driving speedboat that killed Kirsty MacColl

Deckhand Reveals He Was at the Helm in Kirsty MacColl’s Tragic Speedboat Accident

Twenty-five years have passed since the tragic death of iconic British singer…
The spirit of my grandmother visited over Christmas

Unforgettable Christmas: A Heartfelt Encounter with My Grandmother’s Spirit

Throughout my life, I hadn’t been one to search for messages from…
Cheater Texas AG breaks cover with his married mistress

Scandal Unveiled: Texas AG’s Secret Affair with Married Mistress Exposed

Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, who is married, has recently…
22-year-old man dies after Birmingham shooting, suspect in custody

Tragic Birmingham Shooting Claims Life of 22-Year-Old; Suspect Apprehended

In Birmingham, Alabama, a suspect has been apprehended following a deadly shooting…
Palm Coast man sentenced to 30 years for felony child sex charges, police say

Palm Coast Man Receives 30-Year Sentence for Felony Child Sex Offenses: A Case Overview

In Bunnell, Florida, a man named Gregory Smith has been handed a…
US seizes another vessel off the coast of Venezuela

Breaking News: U.S. Seizes Vessel Near Venezuela – What It Means for International Relations

The United States is actively engaged in seizing yet another oil tanker…
Megyn Kelly accuses CBS boss of exploiting Erika Kirk in tirade

Megyn Kelly Criticizes CBS Executive for Alleged Exploitation of Erika Kirk

Megyn Kelly recently unleashed a fervent critique aimed at Bari Weiss, following…