Armanis Valdez was 17 when he was fatally shot on the evening of Saturday, May 15, 2021, in the Claremont section of the Bronx. The shooting happened behind a building on Webster Avenue after a crowd had gathered in a McDonald’s parking lot for the filming of a music video. Armanis sustained a gunshot wound to his chest, was taken to BronxCare Health System, and was pronounced dead.

Four other people — a 31-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man and a 24-year-old man — were also wounded and hospitalized in stable condition. The Bronx District Attorney described the shooting as gang-related and said it resulted from an exchange of gunfire between rival gangs. An arrest was made on Monday, May 17, 2021, when 18-year-old Luis Cruz of the Bronx was taken into custody and charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

Armanis was remembered by his family as a beautiful and loving boy who aspired to be a rapper. If anyone who knew Armanis or was at the scene that night has information, please share it.