Reyna Caceres was killed shortly after midnight near Aqueduct Lands Playground.
NEW YORK — Police identified Reyna Caceres as the 23-year-old woman killed near a University Heights playground, then arrested a 16-year-old boy on murder and weapon charges five days later.
The case centers on a late-night shooting outside 2158 Aqueduct Avenue, a block tied closely to neighborhood life because of Aqueduct Lands Playground, nearby schools and Bronx Community College. Police said the teen was taken into custody Tuesday, June 2, at 7:53 p.m. in the 46th Precinct. His name was not made public because he is a minor.
The shooting was reported at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday, May 28. Officers responding to a 911 call found Caceres with a gunshot wound to her left eye, police said. She was taken by EMS to St. Barnabas Hospital and pronounced dead. Police first said there were no arrests, then announced the teen’s arrest after several days of investigation.
The teenager faces charges of murder, aggravated manslaughter, reckless endangerment and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Police have not released a motive. They also have not said whether Caceres was targeted, whether the gun was recovered or whether investigators are seeking other suspects. Officials described the case as ongoing after the arrest.
The scene stretched around the playground entrance and a corner of the park, where police tape blocked off sections of sidewalk and park space. Local reporting from the scene described evidence markers, possible shell casings and personal items left behind after the gunfire. The location sits diagonally across from P.S. 91 and close to Aqueduct Walk, a corridor that residents and community groups have worked to improve.
Some reports said Caceres had been near a gathering at the playground when shots were fired. Authorities have not confirmed that account. Witnesses told reporters they heard multiple shots in the area. Police have not released surveillance details, ballistics findings or a timeline showing where the shooter stood when the fatal shot was fired.
Aqueduct Avenue has long carried a mix of community use and public safety concerns. Residents have reported open drug use, discarded needles and late-night disorder in parts of the area. At the same time, Friends of Aqueduct Walk and other local groups have pushed to restore the corridor as a safer public space. The shooting has renewed attention on those concerns.
Because the suspect is 16, the case may involve added court restrictions on what records and hearings become public. Prosecutors will determine how the charges proceed and what evidence is presented in court. Police have not announced a news conference or released a fuller charging document. The Bronx district attorney’s office is expected to handle the prosecution.
By Wednesday, June 3, Caceres’ death remained under investigation, with the teen in custody and unanswered questions about the shooting’s motive, target and possible witnesses.
Author note: Last updated June 3, 2026.