Trump Leaves Stage Mid-Speech To Comfort Parents Of 12-Year-Old Killed By Stray Bullet
President Donald Trump abruptly stepped away from the stage during a speech in New York on Friday after realizing two special guests were sitting in the audience.
What followed was an emotional unscripted moment as the president temporarily stopped his remarks, walked into the crowd and embraced them before returning to the podium.
Trump was speaking at the Nassau County Police Academy when he recognized Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sgt. Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son, Jacob Freytes, was killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx late last month.
“Two weeks ago, a 12-year-old boy named Jacob Freytes — you read about this one? — was tragically shot and killed by a stray bullet fired by a repeat offender in a gun battle,” Trump told the audience.
“Jacob was the son of a loving mom and a retired New York City police detective, and they are incredible people, and I think I heard that they may be with us today,” Trump said.
“Are you with us?” the president asked.
After locating the parents in the audience, Trump left the stage and walked over to the couple as Martinez appeared visibly emotional.
The president embraced Martinez and Freytes and privately spoke with each of them before making his way back to the stage.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later shared video of the encounter and described what happened.
“In a beautiful impromptu moment, President Trump exits the stage in the middle of his speech to embrace Migdalia Martinez and retired NYPD Sergeant Jesus Freytes, whose 12-year-old son Jacob was tragically killed by a stray bullet in the Bronx,” Leavitt wrote.
Trump addressed the killing again after returning to the podium.
“Incredible,” Trump said.
“Horrible story,” he continued.
“What a horrible thing,” the president said.
“But we’re going after them,” Trump added.
“These are bad, sick people,” he said.
Jacob was reportedly sitting on his bicycle outside a Bronx bodega when he was struck by a stray bullet during a gun battle.
Police arrested 45-year-old William Ferrer in connection with the shooting, and he now faces multiple charges, including second-degree murder.
Ferrer has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the New York Post, Ferrer’s arrest history stretches back more than 25 years and includes previous charges involving drunk driving, drug possession, menacing and criminal contempt.
Jacob’s mother described the devastating moment she learned her son had been shot during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” earlier in the week.
“I gave him a kiss, and I walked out, and we always do a little dolphin kiss,” Martinez said of the last time she saw her son before leaving for work.
“And I walked out and went to work,” she said.
“Around five o’clock, they called me and said that he had gotten shot,” Martinez recalled.
“And all I could do was try to think of different ways to get here faster,” she said.
“When I got there, I just seen my boy gone,” Martinez said.
The 12-year-old’s killing has now sparked a push by Republican lawmakers in New York to change state law.
Republicans have introduced legislation dubbed “Jacob’s Law,” which would impose tougher penalties when a criminal’s reckless actions result in the death of a child.
Trump’s encounter with Jacob’s parents came as the president used his appearance before the Nassau County Police Academy to discuss crime and his administration’s law enforcement agenda.
But for several minutes Friday, the policy discussion gave way to something far more personal as the president stopped his speech and walked directly toward two grieving parents, Fox News reported.
There was no lengthy introduction or formal presentation before Trump left the podium.
He saw Jacob’s mother and father in the crowd and went to them.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
