10-Year-Old Victim ID'd, Details Revealed In Asbury Park Killing

"My brother died in my arms. You tell me how I’m supposed to feel."

This reflects a family in grief on Friday following the unthinkable: A 10-year-old boy who wasn't the intended target of gunfire was shot and killed this week.

The family continues to mourn as the victims of the Wednesday shooting – the boy and his mother – have been identified, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Friday.

Yovanni Banos-Merino, 10, died from a gunshot wound sustained Wednesday evening at his Ridge Avenue home. His mother, Lilia Merino, 38, also sustained injuries but was treated and released from Jersey Shore University Medical center in Neptune Township, according to the MCPO.

A GoFundMe page was established to help raise money for the family's funeral expenses. A woman who identified herself as the boy's sister posted the fundraiser on Facebook, saying: "My brother died in my arms. You tell me how I’m supposed to feel."

Another person wrote: "RIP Yovanni...Poodie misses you a lot. You were his friend..so sorry this happened to you," with this photograph:

Others tried to encourage his sister to stay strong while also feeling her grief, and her anger toward the shooter. "Omg baby girl, I’m so sorry," one person wrote.

A Neptune Township teen was arrested without incident and charged Thursday for his role in the shooting death of the child and wounding of the victim’s mother in Asbury Park, according to the MCPO.

The incident happened around 10:40 p.m. when Asbury Park police responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired at a home in the 400 block of Ridge Avenue in the city, according to the MCPO.

Police arrived to find the 10-year old child and his 39-year old mother had been struck with gunshot wounds. The child’s mother was treated and released for her injuries, however the child was pronounced deceased at 11:18 p.m.

At this point in the investigation, it appears that neither the 10-year old child nor his mother were the intended victims of this shooting. The intended target was another occupant also present within the home, according to the MCPO.

The juvenile is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Investigators are seeking the assistance of the public to identify other(s) who may have been involved in this criminal conspiracy. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch