By: Richard L. Smith
A 16-year-old from Sayreville has been taken into custody and charged in connection with a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 17-year-old from East Brunswick, authorities announced.
According to information released by Middlesex County Prosecutor Linda Estremera and Sayreville Police Chief Daniel Plumacker, the juvenile is facing multiple delinquency charges, including murder and several weapons offenses, stemming from a violent incident that occurred on January 9, 2026.
Police were dispatched to Woods Edge Court in the Parlin section of Sayreville at approximately 10:58 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting gunfire.
When officers arrived, they found a teen suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the Sayreville Police Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office launched an inquiry into the shooting.
The case was led by Detective Mark Nairooz of Sayreville Police and Detective Ryan Kirsh of the Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities say the 16-year-old suspect and the victim knew each other before the shooting, and the incident is not believed to have been random.
The teen suspect has been charged with acts of juvenile delinquency that would amount to murder, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a handgun, and armed riot if committed by an adult.
He is currently being held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center while awaiting a preliminary hearing before a Family Court judge.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.