Teen shot as sweet 16 bash ends in Bronx

ONE TEENAGE BOY was killed and another, wounded in a shooting outside a sweet 16 party at a Bronx catering hall Thursday, police said.

As a girl’s birthday bash began to wrap up, a large group of teens began fighting outside Maestro’s Caterers on Bronxdale Ave. in Van Nest about 12:20 a.m., according to authorities.

During the brawl, one of the teens jumped into a black Honda, fired several shots into the crowd and drove off, cops said.

One of the bullets hit 16-yearold Sincear Williams in the neck, police said. Medics rushed him to Jacobi Medical Center, where he died.

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the arm and was in stable condition at Jacobi Medical Center.

“It’s devastating,” said Wandy Lugo, whose daughter was at the party.

“My daughter’s 15 years old. She’s going to celebrate her 16th birthday next summer. It could’ve been her,” said Lugo, who lives across from Williams.

“It’s almost surreal,” she added. “It hits home.”

Lugo said she picked her daughter up from the party about 20 minutes before the gunfire — and thought that some of the teens outside could be trouble.

“It was a mother’s instinct,” she said. “Something about the way they looked wasn’t right . . . I wasn’t sure if they were part of the party, or just came towards the end, but it made me uneasy and I wanted to get out of there as quick as I could.”

Williams’ death has devastated his neighbors.

“He’s a very good kid,” said one man who lives next door to Williams’ home on Underhill Ave. “I was calling (his mother) today and she wasn’t picking up the phone. “I can’t believe this,” he said. Other friends took to social media to express their condolences.

“RIP to the funniest, flyest guy I know,” wrote Facebook user Jellyfam Johnny. “I know we barely talk to each other but u had plans for the future to rap and ball out.” Police have made no arrests in the shooting.

It was not immediately disclosed if Williams or the second shooting victim were attending the sweet 16 party when they were shot, or just got entangled in the fight outside.

The catering hall, Maestro’s, is a popular spot for politicians and powerbrokers in the borough. The Bronx County Democratic Party often holds fundraisers and election night parties at the venue.