Authorities in Essex County have charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with an assault that left a well known community handyman dead over the summer.
It was shortly after 1 a.m. on August 23rd in the 200 block of Lehigh Ave. when authorities said a preliminary investigation indicated Larry H. Alston, 57, of Lehigh Ave. was physically assaulted after a confrontation with one or more unidentified suspects. Alston died of his injuries around 1:45 a.m. according to Katherine Carter a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
The death of Alston devastated the tight-knit South Ward community where Alston's family lived on the block for more than 40 years according to residents in the area.
Neighbors said, the family lived in this community for decades and everyone knew and liked Alston. "Alston would do great work and was available anytime, for whatever help you needed", several neighbors said.
Authorities could not reveal the name or the identity of the 16-year-old boy because of his age according to Katherine Carter. "All I can say is that the suspect is a 16-year-old male only charged with aggravated assault and robbery", Carter said. Carter dismissed earlier media accounts that Alston died from a stabbing saying, "at this point of the investigation, Mr. Alston was not stabbed, he died from a punch. The suspect is not being charged with murder", Carter said.
Family members declined any comments regarding the investigation but did want to thank the public and the South Ward community for their abundant love and support during the family's time of grieving.
Carter said the investigation is still open.