High school student who dreamed of leaving Bronx to pursue fashion designer career gunned down yards from home

A high school senior with hopes of leaving the Bronx to pursue a career in fashion design was tragically gunned down just blocks away from his family’s home , police said.

The prospective fashionista Xavier Navarez, 17, endured multiple gunshot wounds in the back on Oak Terrace near Beekman Ave. in Mott Haven shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday. He was transported to Lincoln Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

“I don’t know how to feel. I’m in shock. I was at work and had to rush to the hospital,” Xavier’s older brother Jose, 22, said Sunday. “I had hundreds of people send condolences. People I grew up with, people he’s friends with. I haven’t slept yet. I’ve just kept looking at his photos.”

Police said Sunday they arrested 33-year-old James Walker, who resides on the block where the shooting occurred, on charges of murder and weapon possession in connection to Xavier’s murder. Police said the motive is unclear at this time.

Xavier was poised to graduate from Bronx Engineering & Technology Academy next June and had recently taken a senior portrait decked out in his graduation gown—his grieving family said he gave a big smile and a thumbs up. The teen had big dreams to use his fashion talent as a one-way ticket out of the Bronx, according to family and loved ones.

He poured passion into a fledgling brand called “Die Rich,” which he spread to others in the neighborhood when he crafted handmade sweat suits for people. “He always made sweat suits and sold it to people,” Jose said, describing his sibling as artistic, entrepreneurial and ambitious. “He had a lot of people buying his clothing.”

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories

Xavier was in the process of creating a website for his clothing line but wasn’t able to finish. “One thing that he wanted was to get out [of] the Bronx. That’s why he had a different idea about how to make money with the clothing brand,” Jose said. “He was always thinking of ways to expand the clothing brand.”

The teen never appeared scared of the neighborhood violence but also didn’t take part in it, according to his sibling. Xavier also has no criminal record. “He’s super goofy. He was all about school and was always looking for work. Always trying to stay out of harm’s way,” Jose said. “He was always just excited to go outside. Ready to go to school and come back home.”

The family has taken his death very hard, Jose said as he couldn’t help but cry at the thought of his brother never getting to graduate or achieve his aspirations. As for the brother’s deaf mother, who Xavier would help care for, she is unable to even enter the home, instead opting to stay with her daughter.

“She can’t step foot inside this house,” Jose said.