N.J. Man Arrested, Opened Fire On Essex County Family Near School: Prosecutor

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Police have charged a Maplewood gunman with opening fire on a family as they sat on their Essex County porch last month, killing a toddler and his 21-year-old uncle and wounding the boy’s father, police say.

On Saturday, police charged Stevenson Valentin, 28, of Maplewood, in connection with the murders of Marcus Milien, 1 and Morlens Milice, 21, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Orange Police Director Todd Warren.

Prosecutors said that the shooting took place on Nov. 3 on Cleveland Avenue in Orange, blocks away from Cleveland Street Elementary School.

Police previously stated that the victims were sitting on the front porch of a two-family home when a gunman walked up to the porch and opened fire on the group.

The victims then attempted to run inside the house, at which point the shooter fled, police said.

Milien and Milice died as a result of their wounds, and the toddler’s father - whose name was not released – suffered a gunshot wound and was hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities said that a fourth victim - a 15-year-old male – also suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the attack.

• See related article: Cops ID N.J. Toddler, Uncle Shot And Killed Near School

Newark police officers arrested Stevenson during a traffic stop on Saturday after determining that he was wanted for the Orange murders.

Authorities charged Stevenson with two counts of Murder, Possession of a Weapon and Possession Unlawful Purpose, in addition to two counts of Aggravated Assault against the two other shooting victims.

An Essex County Superior Court Judge set Stevenson’s bail at $1 million with no 10 percent option. Police transported him to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark.

Photo: ABC 7 New York