The 14-year-old boy stabbed to death by a group of teens in a Bronx playground was just in the wrong place at the wrong time — and his attackers even recorded his slaying, law-enforcement sources told The Post on Friday.

Ninth-grader Angel Mendoza was at the Williamsbridge Oval Playground in Norwood on Tuesday evening hanging out with a female friend and at least one other male teen when a group of eight young people came up to them, sources said.

There had been a bloody fight earlier in the night between the other male teen who Mendoza was with and some of the larger group, sources said.

Angel Mendoza, 14, was stabbed to death during a brawl at the Williamsbridge Oval Playground in The Bronx. family handout

Mendoza, who was not in a gang and had no previous run-ins with  the law, was not at the earlier brawl and was doing nothing more than chatting with his pals when the rivals came up on them, sources said.

His male friend fled — and Mendoza, confused at what was going on, put up his hands, sources said. 

But the attackers were out for blood — apparently anyone’s — and cellphone video captured the pack zeroing in on Mendoza before smashing him “in the face with a Taurus 9mm pistol” and then repeatedly striking and kicking him on “his head, face and body,” according to court documents and sources.

Mother Ramona Hernandez de Mendoza being consoled by her husband Miguel Mendoza, dad of Angel Mendoza 14, who was stabbed to death. Georgett Roberts/NYPost

“There is a hole in my heart because my son is not here,” said the teen’s heartbroken dad, Miguel Mendoza, on Friday. “He’s gone. He’s not coming back. He was my first boy. I’m very angry – a lot.

“I want justice to be served.”

Migue – who embraced Angel’s distraught mother Ramona Hernandez de Mendoza at a makeshift memorial outside their Norwood apartment building – fondly recalled his son’s ambition to become a singer and love of rap, reggaeton and dance. 

Memorial site for Mendoza at his home in the Bronx. Brigitte Stelzer

But he said Angel had recently strayed from a straight-and-narrow path, becoming influenced by wayward friends and rebelliously cutting school starting in May.

Angel’s parents even began hiding his shoes so he wouldn’t go outside, but the strong-headed youth would still find a way out, his dad said.

“I went to family court, they did nothing,” Miguel Mendoza, 43, said. “I called the police, they said he’s a minor, they can’t do nothing. I went to ACS, they did nothing.”

Bloodstains on the ground at the park after the fatal stabbing. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

According to sources, Mendoza was likely collateral damage after two of his friends had clashed with the gang shortly before the bloodbath. Brigitte Stelzer

The area is known territory for the notorious Trinitarios gang, and cops at the moment are considering the deadly clash “gang motivated” — although none of those involved, least of all Mendoza, is in the NYPD’s gang database, sources said.

The Trinitarios were behind the heinous 2018 caught-on-camera attack on 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, an aspiring-NYPD-cop teen butchered in a case of mistaken identity.

“I saw the breaking news. It reminded me of my Junior all over again,” Leandra Feliz, Guzman’s mother, told The Post on Friday of Mendoza’s senseless death. “I felt broken-hearted.”

Mendoza’s mother, Ramona (center, in white shirt), is getting comforted by her husband and a neighbor after the teen’s death. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Hernandez de Mendoza with her 10-year-old son at their home. Brigitte Stelzer

In the case of Mendoza, one of his attackers was filmed stabbing him “one time in the chest and one time in the abdomen,” the court documents said.

The youngster regularly hung out at the park to play basketball and was just collateral damage apparently because he was at the site at the time the attackers came up to confront people he was with, sources said.

Start your day with all you need to know

Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

Thanks for signing up!

Cops found Mendoza clinging to life when they rushed to the blood-covered playground around 7:30 p.m.

He was taken to Jacobi Medical Center but was pronounced dead just before 9 p.m., police said.

A NYC Parks worker washes away the blood. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

The scene of the stabbing in Williamsbridge Oval Park. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

A 17-year-old boy who was also stabbed in the shoulder and abdomen went to Montefiore Medical Center, where he was in stable condition, cops added.

Four teens — Andrew Ansah, 18, Jordan Williams, 18, and two boys, ages 15 and 16, whose names were not released because they are minors — have since been arrested and charged over the grisly killing.

They all face charges of murder, manslaughter and two counts each of gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

“His lip was cut. His front teeth were broken like somebody hit him with a pistol. His face was bruised,” Miguel said about his son. “Everyone who was involved should be arrested.” Brigitte Stelzer

Williams was arraigned at Bronx Criminal Court on Thursday, and Ansah was arraigned a day earlier. Both teens were held without bail, records show.

At least one knife and a firearm were recovered at the scene, according to court documents.

The victim lived just three blocks from the popular park, his family said. His bicycle that he used to ride to the park remained parked outside his family’s apartment Friday.