A 41-year-old father of seven, Jonathan Pettigrew, was fatally shot aboard a BX36 bus in the Bronx after confronting a fellow passenger who was talking loudly on a cellphone, police said.
The shooting occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Jun. 8, near the intersection of White Plains Road and East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx.
Surveillance video shows passengers rushing off the bus as Pettigrew collapsed on the sidewalk after being shot in the stomach. He was transported to Jacobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Pettigrew confronted another passenger who was speaking loudly on a cellphone, and the argument escalated before the passenger shot him and fled the scene.
Police described the suspect as a young man in his teens wearing a white T-shirt who fled south on White Plains Road. No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Jonathan Pettigrew was on his way to pick up one of his daughters after work when the shooting occurred, People reported.
His brother, Avery Pettigrew, said he worked at a restaurant and lived with his 7-year-old daughter. Avery described his brother as an aspiring rapper who was "a good kid" and "very into sports".
Avery Pettigrew told reporters, "They told me my brother was deceased, and I didn't believe it". He added, "I just want justice and hope he pays for what he's done". The NYPD has asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS, as per CBS News.
The incident has drawn attention to disputes over cellphone use on public transportation.
This shooting follows a pattern of violence stemming from minor arguments on New York City transit, though officials emphasize that such escalations remain rare. Police continue searching for the gunman as the case moves forward.
