News / World
Two Charged With Killing Three College Students in Newark
A 28-year old man and 15-year old boy were charged Thursday in the execution-style schoolyard killings of three college students and the wounding of another in Newark, NJ. Police apprehended the 15-year old boy Wednesday night, while the man, Jose Carranza, surrendered to Mayor Cory Booker Thursday.
The four victims, all friends who were planning to attend Delaware State University this fall, were shot while visiting in a neighborhood schoolyard Saturday night.
Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20, and Iofemi Hightower, 20, were forced to kneel against a wall and were shot at close range. The fourth victim, 19-year-old Natasha Aeriel, Terrance Aeriel's sister, survived a wound to her head and is hospitalized. Natasha Aeriel was able to help identify the suspects.
Newark, New Jersey's largest city, has decreased its notorious crime rate, but still has 60 homicides so far this year.
Public officials are asking for the residents of Newark to refrain from a racial uproar since Carranza and the 15-year old boy are Hispanic and charged with killing three African-Americans. According to several officials, the racial climate in Newark is fine, but due to this incident, they don't want a tear in the racial fabric of the city.
