15-Year-Old Jersey City Boy Charged With Attempted Murder: City

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A 15-year-old boy was arrested Monday and charged with attempted murder, police in Jersey City said.

Police said that the boy has been connected to at least two shootings that took place in the city last year.

Police said that on Oct. 21, around 11:19 p.m., they responded to gunshots fired in the area of Van Nostrand and Ocean avenues. No injuries were reported.

Around two weeks later, just after midnight on Nov. 6, police responded to another report of shots fired, this time near 102-106 Rutgers Ave. Several parked vehicles had bullet damage, but there were no injuries, said police spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione.

On Jan. 10, police responded to a report of a person with a gun in Jersey City. They chased the teen, arrested him, and recovered a handgun.

Police later determined that the gun had been used in both of the earlier shootings, Wallace-Scalcione said.

On Monday, police arrested the boy on Bidwell Avenue without incident, they said.

Officials say he's facing charges of attempted murder, possession of firearms for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a handgun.

Mayor James Solomon said, “This case shows what happens when we invest in smart, targeted enforcement and hold violent offenders accountable."

The city said that the investigation is continuing, and anyone with information related to these or other incidents is encouraged to contact the Jersey City Police Department or submit tips anonymously through email at policetips@njjcps.org or by calling 855-JCP-TIPS.