Nationwide — Jonathan Pettigrew, a 41-year-old African American father of seven, was shot and killed on a New York City BX36 bus after confronting another passenger over loud phone use. The Bronx incident escalated into gunfire, and the suspect fled the scene.
According to People, the shooting happened on June 8 aboard a BX36 bus near White Plains Road and East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. Officers said Pettigrew spoke up after another passenger played a phone conversation loudly, which led to a verbal dispute inside the bus.
The argument escalated quickly. The other passenger then pulled out a gun and fired at Pettigrew before running off the bus, police said.
Officers from the New York Police Department said Pettigrew was struck in the abdomen. Emergency responders transported him to Jacobi Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Surveillance footage reviewed by local outlets showed passengers rushing out of the bus immediately after the gunfire. An additional video showed Pettigrew stepping off the bus and collapsing on the sidewalk moments later.
Pettigrew was reportedly on his way to pick up one of his daughters after work when the shooting happened. He was the father of seven children.
Family members identified Pettigrew and described him as a humorous and sports-loving father. His brother, Avery, said he struggled to process the news, saying, “They told me my brother was deceased and I didn’t believe it.”
No arrests have been made so far. Investigators are still reviewing evidence as the search for the suspect continues.