A teenager faces criminal charges for murder in connection with the brutal killing of a 15-year-old boy last year in Newark, NJ.
The suspect allegedly committed the homicide a short time before 8:00 p.m. on Mother’s Day 2015. According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was one of several teenagers involved in a violent altercation in the area of 19th Avenue and South 16th Street in Newark’s South Ward. The two groups of teens were reportedly in Newark to attend an annual bike event hosted by the Newark Knights Motorcycle club. Authorities believe that the teenagers may have been in gangs and that the altercation might have been related to a dispute between the gangs.
When the argument went from being strictly verbal to becoming more physical, a number of people allegedly started to shoot handguns. Tragically, the victim was killed in the crossfire. According to officials, the victim was not part of either group of teens involved in the altercation.
In addition to the homicide victim, three other individuals suffered gunshot wounds due to the shooting.
The suspect, a 19-year-old boy from Newark NJ, was placed under arrest and charged with first degree murder and weapons offenses. Now the suspect has been indicted by an Essex County grand jury, which means that his case could be headed to trial in Essex County Superior Court.
To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Pleads Not Guilty in Mother’s Day Murder of 15-Year-Old.”