Belleville Man, Newark Teen Charged In Essex County Shooting

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A 34-year-old man from Belleville and a juvenile from Newark have been charged with aggravated assault in connection with a shooting that wounded a teen in Essex County last week, authorities said Thursday.

The shooting took place around 7 p.m. on June 11 on the 100-block of Wakeman Avenue in Newark, according to the Newark Department of Public Safety, which released the following statement about the incident:

“On arrival, officers were met by a 13-year-old with a gunshot wound to his right leg, and immediately administered aid by applying a tourniquet to the wounded area. The victim was stable and transported to a local hospital for treatment.”

During the investigation, detectives from the Newark Police Division's Shooting Response Team identified Luis A. Aponte, 34, of Belleville, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Newark as suspects, authorities said.

The Newark Police Shooting Response Team and Fugitive Apprehension Team apprehended Aponte in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Police took the juvenile into custody at a different address in Newark.

Both suspects face charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, conspiracy, receiving stolen property and endangerment.

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