A community basketball game in the Bronx ended in horror this weekend after gunfire erupted at Haffen Park, leaving one man dead and four others injured — including 17-year-old Anthonaya Campbell, who remains in critical condition.
A Dream Cut Short
Authorities said Campbell, the youngest of the five victims, was struck in the back of the head during the shooting. The bullet is now lodged behind her eye, leaving her unable to speak.
Her mother, Jennifer Talbot, described her daughter as a young woman with ambitious goals, aspiring to become a speech pathologist to help others find their voice.
“She must have got up and tried to run. My grandson was there and he ran up and thought that she was dead. And my other daughter went down there and panicked and somebody else started to do CPR,” Talbot recalled.
Campbell’s aunt, Elizabeth, also expressed her anguish:
“My niece just turned 17, she didn’t deserve this. Nobody could deserve this.”
Deadly Gunfire at Haffen Park
The shooting broke out Saturday at Haffen Park off Gunther Avenue in Baychester. According to investigators, multiple shooters opened fire during a basketball tournament, sending crowds scrambling.
A 32-year-old man was killed after being struck in the chest. Two other victims were shot in the back and are expected to survive, while a 42-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the arm.
Police announced charges against four men on Sunday night. All four face murder charges, and three are also charged with gang assault.
A Mother’s Shock Amid Celebration
For Talbot, the devastation came at a bittersweet moment. She had just celebrated completing her PhD program when she received the call that her daughter was in the ICU fighting for her life.
“It took more than 17 minutes for my daughter to get CPR, which made a big difference in her condition. If we had officers actually present, it would have been a lot sooner,” she said.
She added that Campbell is not breathing on her own, though doctors performed a blood transfusion on Sunday as they continue efforts to stabilize her condition.
Gun Violence Shadows Summer
The Haffen Park shooting marks another act of senseless gun violence as the city grapples with late-summer spikes in shootings. Community members expressed frustration that a neighborhood event meant to bring people together ended in bloodshed.
For Campbell’s family, the focus remains on hope. Talbot says they are praying for a miracle, clinging to the possibility that her daughter’s determination will help her fight through her injuries.
