A 16-year-old girl was fatally stabbed inside a Bronx deli Tuesday afternoon, just steps away from her home, prompting a manhunt and renewed concern over rising violence in the borough’s northern neighborhoods.
Aliyah Williams was attacked shortly before 4 p.m. at a corner store located at the intersection of Boston Road and Mickle Avenue, in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx, NYPD said. Officers responded to reports of a stabbing and arrived to find the teenager suffering from multiple wounds to her head and torso.
Emergency medical personnel transported Williams to Jacobi Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.
The suspect, described as a male wearing a black shirt and black pants, fled the scene on foot. Police are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking to witnesses, but as of Wednesday morning, no arrests had been made. Investigators said they are still working to determine whether Williams knew her attacker or whether the incident was random.
“This was a brutal and senseless act of violence,” an NYPD spokesperson said in a brief statement. “We are using every available resource to locate the individual responsible.”
The killing occurred just two blocks from where Williams lived, according to police. The motive for the stabbing remains unclear, though law enforcement sources said the attack followed some kind of dispute.
Data from the NYPD show that major crimes are up so far this year in the 47th Precinct, which includes Williamsbridge along with neighboring areas such as Wakefield, Woodlawn, and Baychester.
As of July 13, six homicides have been reported in the precinct, up from four at the same point in 2024. Felony assaults, which include attacks resulting in serious or permanent injury, have increased by 25%.
No further details about the suspect or the nature of the altercation were immediately released. The investigation is ongoing.
