The career criminal charged with killing an innocent 12-year-old son of a retired NYPD cop in the Bronx was too much of a coward to face the victim’s family, who packed the courtroom Friday for the routine hearing.
William Ferrer, 45, was a no-show in Bronx Criminal Court — just days after he was slapped with a slew of serious charges, including second-degree murder, for allegedly killing 12-year-old Jacob Freytes and wounding two others last Saturday in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx.
Ferrer, who was brought to the courthouse by the Department of Corrections, had his appearance waived last minute by his attorney Raymond Gazer as both Freytes’ mom and dad, along with other family members, sat inside the courtroom to face their son’s alleged killer.
Freytes, the son of retired NYPD Det. Sgt. Jesus Freytes, was caught in the crossfire during the afternoon gunfire outside Wanda Deli Grocery — where he was struck in the chest by a bullet and died later at a Bronx hospital, prosecutors have said.
Freytes’ anguished mother, Migdalia Martinez, told The Post in an exclusive interview that she fears her son’s murder is just the latest example of crime on the rise throughout the city.
“The system works more for the criminal than they’re gonna work for the victim,” Martinez said in the fiery interview, while criticizing lawmakers for making the city a playground for criminals.
“The city’s making it easier for the criminal. It’s too much. Criminals aren’t scared anymore, the laws aren’t tough anymore,” she said Wednesday.
According to law-enforcement sources, Ferrer — who has a half dozen previous arrests — was trying to settle some beef for his brother with the other men when he opened fire, striking Freytes.
Two men were also hit during the shooting, one in the buttocks and one in the foot, according to the criminal complaint.
Freytes was struck after biking over to the bodega to buy a ball, prosecutors have said.
Heartbreaking security footage showed the poor boy watching the fight before a man pulled out a gun and started shooting, at which point Freytes is seen clutching his chest and running back into the bodega.
In court Friday, prosecutors said they were in the process of presenting the case to a grand jury to secure an indictment on murder and other charges.
Bronx Criminal Court judge Joseph Sorrentino ordered the brute to remain remanded on Rikers Island until his next court appearance on Sept. 17.
Ferrer is charged with murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the shooting.
He faces up to life in prison if convicted on the top charge.
