The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was shot and killed in Brooklyn last week issued an emotional plea for information leading to an arrest on Monday, as Mayor Eric Adams vowed to double down on his efforts to curb gun violence. 

Kade Lewin died after he and two cousins were caught in crossfire in East Flatbush Thursday night, police and Mayor Eric Adams said. 

Standing with Adams at a news briefing Monday morning, Lewin’s mother, holding a framed portrait of her son, implored witnesses to come forward.

“All I’m asking, please, come forth. Please, please, somebody say something,” Suzette Lewin said as her voice broke. “I’m asking for justice for Kade, please. I’m asking for justice. Please.”

Suzette Lewin's son, his 19-year-old cousin Jenna Ellis and their 8-year-old cousin were eating dinner inside a parked car when the shooting happened, the mayor said. 

Kade Lewin, who was shot in the head, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Ellis, who was shot six times, was still hospitalized on Monday, Adams said. 

“This story just strikes at the heart of the trauma in our city and our country,” he said. “This amazing young girl was just taking care of her young family members, treating them to food, just having them out enjoying the day, the night, pulled over just to watch a movie and to eat food. And in that instant, lost them. Lost Kade.” 

Ellis' mother, holding a photograph of her child, echoed Suzette Lewin’s calls for the public’s help. 

“I’m standing here today, and I should not be standing here today,”  Jennifer Jones Ellis said. “My nephew, he’s gone. No more to return to this world. My daughter, laid up in the hospital blaming herself. Why should she blame herself?”

“If you see something, say something. This must be stopped,” she added. “Because we don’t want to have another memorial service, another ritual. We don’t want it to be another Kade, we don’t want it to be another Jenna.” 

While NYPD data released last month showed a decline in shootings in Brooklyn last year, as well as year-to-date this year, 2020’s spike continued in the Bronx and upper Manhattan, and the city saw an overall rise in shootings.

Adams has rolled out a number of anti-gun violence initiatives since he took office, including a revamped iteration of the city’s controversial anti-gun units for which he has faced criticism. 

At Monday’s news briefing, however, he continued to defend his policing strategies.

“When you understand the realness of this, you understand the urgency,” he said as he held up a pair of Kade Lewin’s sneakers. “And so when I move with the urgency and people are telling me to slow down: what the hell is wrong with you?”

“These could have been Jordan’s sneakers, my son,” he added. “Whose child is next?”