Fatal Shooting Near Somerset County Deli

A teen killed an 18-year-old New Jersey woman after shooting her in the neck near a deli on Wednesday, according to authorities.

Tamar Reaves, aka “T-Mac,” 18, of Park Street, in the Somerset section of Franklin Township was arrested hours after the shooting, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson.

The shooting happened at approximately 7:54 a.m., when multiple 911 calls were received by the Franklin Township Police Department reporting a female gunshot victim on Battle Place, according to the SCPO.

Responding officers located an 18-year-old female victim laying on the pavement. The victim, identified as Chamari Webb, was found suffering from a life- threatening gunshot wound, according to the SCPO.

The patrol officers with the assistance of emergency medical personnel provided immediate life-saving measures to the victim, who was transported to a local trauma center. The emergency life-saving measures were unsuccessful, and Webb was pronounced dead at 8:29 a.m.

Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. With the assistance of the New Brunswick police department, investigators were able to identify the suspect as Reaves, according to the SCPO.

At approximately 7:50 a.m., Webb had encountered Reaves near an area deli located on Millstone Road. Moments later, as Webb was walking back toward her Battle Place residence, Reaves approached her and shot her, according to authorities.

Detectives are still in the process of establishing a motive for the shooting. Based on the investigation thus far, they have ascertained that there was prior history between the victim and Reaves, and Webb was the sole intended target.

Reaves fled on foot to a residence in New Brunswick; however, he was later observed near his own residence at approximately 2:35 p.m. where he was approached and detained for questioning, according to authorities.

Investigators subsequently obtained Superior Court search warrants, which were executed at the defendant’s Somerset residence and at the residence he entered in New Brunswick.

Reaves was charged with the first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a handgun without a permit and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. He was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

An autopsy was conducted by the New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, and the cause and manner of death was determined to be a gunshot wound to the neck, classified as a homicide, according to the SCPO.

SCPO photo