On the evening of Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024, 18-year-old Ashley Ballard was fatally shot near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and East 128th Street in East Harlem, about a half mile from her home. The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m.; Ballard suffered gunshot wounds to her back and head and was taken to a nearby Harlem hospital.

Ballard was with 25-year-old Harry Mendoza when an unknown assailant opened fire. Mendoza also died of his injuries. The New York Police Department responded to 911 calls, found the two victims, and conducted a scene search that included looking for shell casings and using a drone. No motive has been released, and it remains unclear what relationship, if any, existed among Ballard, Mendoza, and the shooter.

No arrests have been announced in the days after the shooting and police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. If anyone knew Ashley, her movements that evening, or saw suspicious activity near Lexington Avenue and East 128th Street on March 24, please share what you know.