Late Wednesday, 17-year-old Mauricio Acosta what arrested and charged with the shooting.
A 4-year-old boy, identified as Cincer Balthazar, was shot in the chest when his father was held up outside a halfway house at Grand Avenue and Evelyn Place in the University Heights section. Balthazar, know as "little Spider-Man," lives at the halfway house with his mother. His dad was dropping him off.
The father and his son were robbed by four armed suspects just before 10:30 p.m. The incident was reportedly over the man's coat.
Police said Acosta has made admissions that the gun belonged to him
Police say the father struggled with one of the suspects, and one pulled a gun and fired at them, hitting the boy. He chased the suspects around the corner, possibly shooting one of them.
A 17-year-old boy was found shot in the head down the street. His sister identified him as Jose Martes. It is not confirmed if he was one of the suspects, but his family insists he was not.
"He is not a criminal and he does not own a gun," his sister said. She says the family is "still trying to figure-out what happened."
Both of the wounded boys were rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition.
