Maplewood Police arrested a teenager wanted for a shooting that happened at approximately 6:16 p.m. in the area of Chancellor Avenue near 45th Street in the township on Wednesday evening.
Police say detectives and officers on the scene were able to obtain a video and other information of the suspect.
According to Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul, detectives then focused their investigation on identifying the suspect, locate possible witnesses and to obtain a statement from the victim.
Chief DeVaul said on December 6, at 6:00 p.m., Maplewood Detectives and Officers responded to assist Irvington Police Department in the area of Springfield Avenue and Headley Terrace with an incident in their jurisdiction.
While on the scene, detectives observed a male who individual matching the description of the suspect involved in the shooting from two days prior. Chief DeVaul said as detectives attempted to identify the suspect, he fled on foot.
Police chased the suspect on foot the apprehended him a short time later without further incident, according to Chief DeVaul.
Maplewood Detectives, through the course of their investigation, were able to positivity identify a suspect and determined the victim and the suspect -involved in the incident- knew each other and the dispute originated in Irvington.
The juvenile suspect ( age 17) was charged with Aggravated Assault 2c:12-1b(1), Possession of a Weapon 2c:39-4a(1), and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose 2c:39-4a(1). Chief DeVaul said the suspect was processed and transported to Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.
"I want to thank and recognize the hard work of our detectives and patrol officers who worked tirelessly to bring this case to a conclusion as quickly as they could.
I want to reassure our residents of their safety and that all parties involved in this incident reside in Irvington and there is no connection to Maplewood. This was not a random act of violence.
Residents can expect an increased police presence to include foot patrols in the area as well," Chief DeVaul said.