BRONX, NY – The Norwood community is in mourning after the heartbreaking and senseless loss of 14-year-old Angel Mendoza, who was fatally stabbed during a violent altercation at Williamsbridge Oval Playground on Tuesday evening, August 5, 2025.
According to the NYPD, officers responded to a 911 call just after 7:30 p.m. and arrived to find two teenage boys with stab wounds. Angel had sustained multiple injuries across his body and was rushed to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead. The second victim, a 17-year-old boy whose name has not been released, suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and abdomen and is now in stable condition at Montefiore Medical Center.
The incident unfolded as dusk settled over the neighborhood, with witnesses reporting a verbal dispute among a group of teenagers escalating quickly into violence. Eyewitness Betsy Abril, a local vendor at the park, described the chilling moment she saw a group swarm around Angel before the stabbing. “It all happened so fast,” she recalled, noting she immediately rushed her own children into her concession cart for safety.
Authorities have not made any arrests as of Wednesday, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Investigators recovered a knife from the scene and are working to determine whether the two teens knew each other and what roles they may have played in the altercation.
Angel was well known and liked in the community, frequently visiting Ms. Abril’s cart for sodas, slushies, and hot dogs. His death has left a painful void among residents and friends, many of whom gathered on Wednesday to mourn. Flickering memorial candles—green, blue, and white—lined a park bench near the site of the attack, paying tribute to a life taken far too soon.
Yasmin Rosario, 15, a friend of Angel’s, was at the park just moments before the attack. She remembered the terrifying aftermath and finding Angel on the ground, injured and scared. “He turned to me and asked for help,” she said, her voice filled with emotion.
Angel Mendoza’s death is part of a troubling wave of violence involving youth across New York City this summer. Just weeks earlier, other teens were killed in unrelated incidents in both the Bronx and Queens, raising concerns about the growing vulnerability of young people in public spaces.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with grief and unanswered questions. Angel will be remembered for his kind heart, youthful energy, and the joy he brought to those who knew him. His tragic passing serves as a somber reminder of the urgency to protect our youth and restore safety to our neighborhoods.
May he rest in peace.
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