Jeremiah Draper, a 15-year-old who lived in the St. Nicholas Houses on West 131st Street in Harlem, was shot and killed in the complex’s rear courtyard on the evening of May 17, 2019. He was with friends when gunfire erupted; a bullet struck him in the head and he was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency response.

The NYPD opened an investigation and at one point suggested the possibility Jeremiah was struck by a stray bullet. Jeremiah’s mother, Dawn Bluford, has said she believes he was deliberately targeted, possibly tied to gang-related conflicts in the area, while maintaining that Jeremiah was not involved in gang activity. A friend who was with him said two individuals approached the group immediately before someone began firing.

As of late 2025 no arrests have been announced and no suspects have been publicly identified; the investigation is ongoing. If anyone was in the St. Nicholas Houses courtyard that night or has information that could help, please come forward.