Victims in shooting at Asbury Park home identified
ASBURY PARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- 10-year-old boy who was unintentionally gunned down inside his home in New Jersey late Wednesday has been identified.
Yovanni Banos-Merino, 10, died from a gunshot wound sustained Wednesday night at his Ridge Avenue home.
His mother, Lilia Merino, 38, also sustained injuries but was treated and released from Jersey Shore University Medical center in Neptune Township.
Police said a 16-year-old Neptune Township boy was arrested Thursday at Neptune High School. School officials were alerted and the school was briefly placed on lockdown following the arrest.
Police say others that may be involved are still being sought.
The victims were shot in their home on Ridge Avenue in Asbury Park around 10:40 p.m., officials said.
Merino was treated and released for her injuries, but Banos-Merino died a short time later.
Investigators said neither the 10-year-old nor his mother were the intended targets, the gunman was instead targeting a man who was in the home at the time.
The teen arrested is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and unlawful purpose.
The boy who died attended Bradley Elementary School. Acting Superintendent Sacha K. Gray released a statement on behalf of the Asbury Park School District:
Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Any act of violence is always disheartening, particularly when it happens in our community. Our deepest condolences go out to the family of the 10-year-old boy who was shot and subsequently died. To ensure that correct information is disseminated, we will refrain from commenting at this time as this is an ongoing police investigation.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.
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