Teens Charged With Murder In Slaying Of 17-Year-Old South Jersey Boy

BRIDGETON, NJ — Two teen boys face first-degree murder charges in connection with a shooting that killed a 17-year-old boy and left a 17-year-old girl hospitalized, authorities said.

Officials charged the teens, both of whom are 17-year-old Bridgeton residents, on Feb. 1 according to a news release from Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. Police already charged another person, 21-year-old Iban Perez, in the Jan. 29 shooting. Related article — NJ Man Charged In Fatal Teen Shooting: Prosecutor

The boy who died has yet to be identified. The injured girl was last listed in stable condition, police said. Officials also did not release the names of the recent arrestees.

The 17-year-old defendants face first-degree charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder; second-degree charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a handgun, and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose (two counts), and two fourth-degree counts of possession of a prohibited device, according to Webb-McRae's office. They were arrested and jailed; Webb-McRae said the state will move for continued detention.

Perez, of Bridgeton, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder, one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, Webb-McRae said in a statement Sunday.

At around 12:37 a.m. on Sunday morning, Bridgeton police responded to the 300 block of North Pearl Street for a report of shots fired, Webb-McRae said. At the scene, officers located the teen male suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The 17-year-old female victim had a gunshot wound and first responders took her to Cooper Hospital, said officials.

Investigators are still gathering information, and say involvement by other parties has not been ruled out.

Anyone with information may contact Bridgeton Police Detective Mark Yoshioka at 856-392-9031 or CCPO Det. Kyle Mecouch at 856-332-4379. Anonymous tips may be submitted at CCPO.TIPS .

Patch's Nicole Rosenthal contributed to this report.