By: Richard L. Smith
Three juveniles were sentenced for their roles in the fatal shooting of Kofi Addo, a 57-year-old taxi driver, during an attempted robbery in Franklin Township.
The sentences, handed down by Judge Christopher A. Edwards, resulted in prison terms of 11, 8, and 4 years for the young offenders.
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 11, 2023, around 9:56 p.m., when Franklin Township Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting near Rose Street and Sydney Place in Somerset.
Officers arrived to find Addo, who had been operating his taxi, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Following an extensive investigation involving the Franklin Township Police, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit, and K-9 Units from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and Warren Township Police, three male juveniles—ages 14, 13, and 13—were identified as suspects.
Investigators determined that the boys had intended to rob Addo, but during the attempted robbery, one of them fired a fatal shot before they fled on foot.
The 14-year-old, from Somerset, received an 11-year sentence for first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun.
The first 13-year-old, from New Brunswick, was sentenced to 8 years for first-degree felony murder and first-degree robbery, while the second 13-year-old, from Somerset, received a 4-year sentence for first-degree robbery.
Due to their ages, the juveniles could not be tried as adults under New Jersey law, which prohibits prosecuting anyone under 15 as an adult.
As juvenile offenders, they are not subject to mandatory minimum terms of incarceration.