Bronx gunman fatally shoots teen rival armed with knife after quarrel inside van

A young man who spent his final days afraid for his life was fatally shot in a van outside the Bronx, riddled with bullets after pulling a knife on his attacker, police and family said Thursday.

Both the victim and shooter were inside the van with others when it pulled up to E. 172nd St. and Harrod Ave. while a quarrel broke out between them just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, cops said.

When 18-year-old Dellin Scarlett flashed a knife his rival shot him — and kept pulling the trigger, shooting him in the chest, shoulder, abdomen and both arms and legs, cops said. Police sources said investigators believe the shooting was gang-related.

“He had problems with people in the street. He’d stopped going to school. He had to run for his life,” said his brother, Dean Scarlett, 24. “He said his friends were changing, and he wasn’t going to be chilling with them anymore. But now it’s too late.”

His brother, who works as a security car and a for-hire livery driver, came upon the crime scene, which was close to their home, but didn’t know at first his brother had been mortally wounded as he tried to navigate around it.

He figured out what happened after he got out his car and went into a nearby bodega, where he overheard police officers talking about the killing.

“He was defending himself. He’s not that kind of guy. He’s not a provoker,” his brother said.

The teen was a junior at Lehman High School, but he’d been skipping class to stay clear of danger, his brother said.

People streamed in and out of the teen’s home with flowers, consoling his grief-stricken family Wednesday night.

He was one of three brothers and three sisters, Dean Scarlett said.

“We had fun when I’d take him to my place,” said his brother, who lives in Manhattan. “It’s the first loss my family has ever had of someone close to us.”

Cops have made no arrests in the killing.

“He had a good spirit. We’re heartbroken,” his brother said. “We demand justice be served.”