Franklin Township Shooting Death And Stabbing May Be Related, Police Say

A reported Monday night stabbing may be linked to the shooting death of 17-year-old Joel Burton which occurred just moments later. 

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office:

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Timothy Fitzgerald and Franklin Township Chief of Police Lawrence Roberts announce that detectives are investigating the shooting death of a New Brunswick teenager along with a stabbing of a Franklin Township teenager.

Prosecutor Soriano states that last evening, October 13, 2014 at approximately 9:12 p.m., Franklin Township Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting victim who was presently in a church parking lot on Somerset Street. Responding officers located a 17 year old male suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.

The officers along with emergency medical personnel began life saving measures on the teen who was then transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators have identified the decedent as Joel Burton, of Bergen Court, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Prosecutor Soriano states that at 9:17 p.m. Franklin Township Police received a second 9-1-1 call reporting a stabbing victim in the area of Victor Street which is in close proximity to Somerset Street.

Additional responding officers located a 19 year old male, suffering from stab/laceration wounds to his upper torso and arm. Officers along with emergency medical personnel treated the victim at the scene and transported him to a local hospital where he underwent emergency procedures to address his injuries.

Prosecutor Soriano states that detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Units responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Investigators have not released a motive for the shooting or the assault. The preliminary investigation has revealed that both incidents may be related. Detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in coming forward with any information relative to these crimes.

Prosecutor Soriano states that Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrests of the individual(s) involved in the homicide or the assault. In order to receive the Crime Stopper’s Reward and remain anonymous, tipsters are instructed to call the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.