President Trump embraced the teary-eyed mother of 12-year-old Jacob Freytes — the Bronx boy allegedly shot dead by a career criminal last month — as he promised to get tougher on crime during a pro-police event on Long Island Friday.
The president paused his speech at the Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City to acknowledge Migdalia Martinez, whose son was fatally hit by a stray bullet outside a Bronx bodega in July.
Trump described Martinez and her ex-husband, retired NYPD detective Jesus Freytes, as “incredible people” before departing the podium and exchange words with the weeping pair.
“Incredible, horrible story. A horrible thing. We’re going after them. There are stick people,” Trump promised the crowd after the emotional moment.
Jacob Freytes — whose father is a retired NYPD cop — had cycled to the Wanda Deli Grocery on Elliott Place near Grand Concourse to buy a ball when he was fatally struck in the chest.
Career criminal William Ferrer, 45, was arraigned last month on murder, assault and weapons charges after police said he opened fire during a fight in the South Bronx, killing Freytes and wounding two others.
Ferrer has a lengthy rap sheet dating as far back as 1999, with half a dozen previous arrests, including drug possession in 2013, marijuana possession in 2009, drunk-driving in 2009, and possession of stolen property in The Bronx in 2004, according to police sources.
“He was having a gun battle with his friends, shooting bullets all over the place,” Trump said about Ferrer.
The President said the incident was an extreme product of “Kathy Hochul’s New York” and bail reform policies, which Martinez had previously told The Post was a system that “works more for the criminal than they’re gonna work for the victim.”
The moment was part of a speech in Nassau County in which he touted gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman in his bid against Hochul and attributed the region’s low crime rates thanks to its support of police.
“We have some of the greatest police officers in the world in this room … They’ve gotten dangerous offenders off our streets and they’ve put savage criminals behind bars and they’re making America safe again,” Trump said.
