A quiet evening in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx turned tragic Wednesday when 18-year-old Estarling Peralta was fatally shot on East Gun Hill Road. The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. at 266 East Gun Hill Road, shocking nearby residents and leaving a family devastated by an unimaginable loss.
According to the New York Police Department, officers responded to reports of a shooting at the location and arrived to find Peralta suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Emergency responders rushed the young man to SBH Health System, where he was listed in critical condition upon arrival. Despite the efforts of medical staff to save him, Peralta succumbed to his injuries early Thursday morning.
As police work to determine what led to the fatal shooting, no suspects have been identified or taken into custody. Investigators are still trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the victim and the shooter knew each other. At this stage, no motive has been confirmed, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
The news of Estarling Peralta’s death has left the community in mourning. Friends and family gathered at the scene on Thursday, struggling to make sense of the violence that took the life of a teenager with his whole future ahead of him. Many brought candles and flowers to create a makeshift memorial at the site, a quiet act of remembrance amidst the chaos.
Peralta’s family spoke briefly with News 12 as they returned to the crime scene, visibly shaken and overwhelmed with grief. They described Estarling as a kind-hearted young man who loved his family deeply and had dreams for the future. His sudden death has left a painful void that will not easily be filled.
“He was a good kid,” one relative said, fighting back tears. “He didn’t deserve this. He had plans. He wanted to go far in life.”
Neighbors, still reeling from the incident, expressed shock that such a tragedy could happen in broad daylight on a busy street. “This is becoming too common,” one resident said. “Young people are dying for nothing. We need answers, and we need justice.”
The violence that claimed Peralta’s life is part of a troubling pattern of youth-related shootings that have occurred across the city in recent months. Community leaders and elected officials have continued to call for more investment in youth programs, mental health services, and violence prevention initiatives to stop the cycle of gun violence that disproportionately affects young men like Estarling.
The NYPD is urging anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the shooting or who has information related to the case to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. They hope that witnesses or individuals with knowledge of the shooting will come forward to help bring justice to Estarling Peralta and closure to his grieving family.
As the investigation continues, the community of Norwood mourns the life lost and the potential unfulfilled. Estarling Peralta was only 18—a young man with hopes, dreams, and people who loved him. His family now faces the heartbreaking task of saying goodbye far too soon, while the city searches for answers and a way to prevent future tragedies like this one.
A memorial service is expected to be planned in the coming days to honor Peralta’s life. Details will be shared by the family once arrangements have been made. In the meantime, they ask for privacy and prayers as they navigate this time of unimaginable loss.
