An Elizabeth teenager has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place earlier this year, acting Union County Prosecutor Thomas K. Isenhour announced Wednesday.
The juvenile defendant, who is not being identified due to his age, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday morning on a juvenile complaint of aggravated manslaughter.
According to authorities, shortly before 9:45 p.m. on July 4th, members of the Elizabeth Police Department responded to Elizabeth Police Officer Kevin Kelly's apartment located on the 800 block of Monroe Avenue, where they found 16-year-old shooting victim Oliver Torres in the basement, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Colleen Ruppert, who is prosecuting the case.
Torres was transported to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 5 p.m. the next day, Ruppert said.
An investigation involving the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Union County Sheriff’s Office’s Crime Scene Unit revealed that the defendant was recklessly handling a shotgun while in the basement with friends when Torres was fatally shot.
A detention hearing for the defendant was held Tuesday afternoon, after which he was released on conditions including being subjected to electronic monitoring and confined to his home unless leaving for educational, medical, or legal purposes.
Anyone with information about this matter still is being urged to contact Task Force Sgt. Jose Vendas at 908-358-3048 or Detective William Guy at 908-347-2212.
This juvenile complaint is a mere accusation.
Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Photo: Oliver Torres
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