7th suspect arrested in Paterson teen's murder

PATERSON, N.J. (WABC) -- The last defendant sought in the street shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in northern New Jersey earlier this year has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.

Baseem Williams (pictured below) remains jailed on $2 million bail after he entered his pleas Friday.

Authorities say the 22-year-old Paterson resident was found Tuesday night at a city home. He had been the focus of an intense manhunt since he and six other defendants were charged in the Sept. 20 slaying of high school freshman Nazerah Bugg.

Williams faces charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and employing juveniles for criminal activity.

Three men have pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges stemming from last month's street shooting death in Paterson. Three Paterson residents - 20-year-old Shakeem Ricks, 22-year-old Tyheem Mayfield and 19-year-old Nyje Johnson - entered their pleas during a brief court hearing Wednesday. Each man remains jailed on $2 million bail.

The other three in custody are juveniles and their names have not been released.

Bugg was shot as she left a fast food restaurant Sept. 20 on Clinton Street. Her friend was also injured.

Prosecutors said the shooting was not gang related, but a retaliation situation related to ongoing neighborhood disputes.

According to investigators, a 17-year-old, who is one of those arrested, was the target of a shooting earlier the same day. Someone had shot at his car, but he was not wounded.

Authorities said the 17-year-old and the others decided to go after the group that shot at his car. Seven hours later, investigators say they rolled up on a group of people and opened fire from 75 feet away.

Authorities say 15 shots were fired into the group. The two girls who were shot were not the targets.

Associated Press contributed to this story.