The 17-year-old student is accused of stabbing a 16-year-old male several times in the upper body before running from the scene. "He was a good child and for somebody to take his life just like that and for you guys to come here and sit here and tell me you guys are going to give him 15 years in prison, that was like a slap in the face to me and my family.". "Im the mother, somebody shot my son and my son was not a criminal," said Fofana. He was a student at Columbia High School. Her son was later charged in the killing. The second student, also male, sustained a wound that was not considered life-threatening, officials said. 18-year-old arrested in connection with shooting that killed Columbia High School student. According to RLS Media, residents on Burr Road heard gunfire around 10 p.m., and called police. It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm there was a shooting last night with multiple victims at Underhill. Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8 district and MMS Social Workers and counselors will be present at MMS all day to speak with any student or staff member in need of support. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. When asked if he could imagine why anyone would want to harm Fofana, soccer teammate Joshua Billec said, "I can't. "I'm not up on the exact details, but just want to acknowledge the tragedy that occurred in Maplewood [Sunday] evening in which an 18-year-old lost his life and a 17-year-old was injured," he said. In addition, due to the proximity of Underhill to Clinton Elementary School and the ongoing police investigation taking place, all outdoor activities at Clinton will be canceled for the day (and/or take place indoors where necessary). Maplewoood Police Chief Jim DeVaul referred questions to the ECPO. the owner of a popular New York City comedy club. New Jersey Gov. On Monday afternoon, yellow police tape lined the fences surrounding the complex, and six bouquets of flowers and a soccer ball left by mourners lay outside a locked gate. Officials have not disclosed why the two teens were at the Underhill Field sports complex, a little under a mile from the high school. The superintendent for the South Orange and Maplewood School District sent a letter to families notifying them of the shooting. Moussa was a fixture at the complex, which is several blocks from the high school. Watch Maplewood Patch for more developments. I have notified our County Executive Superintendent of Schools and we are activating the County Grief Counseling Services via the Traumatic Loss Coalition, to support our students and staff.. With this devastating news, I have confirmed with our Board of Education that the retiree celebration scheduled for this evening will be canceled and postponed to a later date. Student Moussa Fofana, 18, was killed at Columbia High School's sports field in Maplewood Sunday and another student was injured. The most recent was in January, when a 70-year-old woman was found beaten to death on the balcony of her apartment. Investigators talked to multiple people on the scene, collected evidence & are following good leads. No arrests have been made. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Maplewood or any New Jersey town: https://patch.com/subscribe, https://health.choc.org/talking-to-children-about-death-an-age-by-age-guide/, https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-with-grief/. According to Taylor, both victims were students of Columbia High School. Columbia High School Principal Frank Sanchez sent an email earlier Monday morning to teachers confirming that "a few of our students were in a horrible situation last night at . Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin accepted the move, reiterating that Hernandez would be detained as his case on the murder charge moved forward. The shooting happened on April 20 at 3245 Lucius Road. Contact information for our counselors and social workers is listed on the second page of this document. The mother of a New Jersey high school soccer star murdered last year reportedly says she's "disappointed and sad" that her son's alleged killer will receive a plea deal and serve just 15 years in prison. Hernandez allegedly told investigators that his brother said two males were following him. One of them took a swing at him, Hernandez said. Ms. Fofana, who runs a fashion and styling business in Maplewood, said she immigrated to the United States from Liberia in late 2002. The investigation is active and ongoing. We ask everyone to keep those school communities and the families of the two students in your thoughts and prayers., The Columbia Police Department announced theyre investigating a shooting at Riverside Apartments in the 3200 block of Lucius Rd. Prosecutors will meet again with Fofana next week to again go over the case with her and her lawyer, after the mother requested to speak with them. Phil Murphy addressed the shooting death at the start of his press briefing on Monday. Neighbors told CBS2 off camera that recently there had been people gathering in the field doing drugs and drinking alcohol, but Sunday's incident was the first time anyone heard of any violence. The Essex County Proescutor's Office said the 17-year-old student had a "non-life-threatening" gunshot wound. Moussa was born in New York and then lived in New Jersey for several years. De'Marion Corbett, a Columbia High School student, was shot and killed on April 20 at Riverside Apartments. Rosemary Ostmann, who has been a spokeswoman for the Fofana family, said the mother didnt want to speak on the case as it continued to move forward. Gov. She was on her way to Pennsylvania late Monday to see Moussas father and had not told her 5-year-old son, Muhammad, about Moussas death, she said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee also commented Monday afternoon. We encourage you, as parents, to also feel free to use our resources. Investigators want to know who shot and killed a high school student Sunday night at a sports complex in a New Jersey town. Columbia University has one of the worst crime and safety records in the nation, according to multiple reports on higher education. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. First published on June 8, 2021 / 10:10 AM. Another student was also injured in the shooting, CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported Monday. An 11th grade student from Columbia High School was killed during a shooting incident on Sunday night at Underhill Field in Maplewood, according to authorities. Now that the arrest has been made, its really important to let the criminal justice system workShe just wants to see that process do its work.. The athletic field for Columbia High School is approximately .8 miles from the high school and closer to one of the elementary schools in town. Hernandez told detectives he grabbed a revolver from Aleman and fired two shots, hitting one of the males, according to the criminal complaint in the case. The local superintendent described the killing as an inconceivable calamity.. A New York Times report Monday night said that Fofana's mother was not sure why her son was there, and that a friend called to tell her he had been shot. ABC 17 News reporters saw a Columbia Police Department crime scene investigation van at the scene Wednesday morning and again Wednesday afternoon. Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? It does not indicate who entered and exited the vehicle. Don't miss Maplewood or South Orange breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with local news. ", He added, "We have activated our emergency protocols to provide mental health support for Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle and Clinton Elementary. Romano was released in 2020 after serving more than 15 years behind bars for attempted murder, he fired a shotgun inside the East Greenbush school in 2004. Once again, young lives have been tragically cut short by gun violence and we find ourselves asking why and searching for answers not just as a school district, but as a community. As the suspect behind Thursday's fatal stabbing of a Columbia University grad student was awaiting a court appearance on Saturday, the campus mourned yet another murdered classmate and . Hernandez, then 20, of Newark, was arrested in August 2021. Moussa was pronounced dead about a half-hour later, they said. 2 min read. In 2019, the owner of a popular New York City comedy club and a nanny who cared for his two children were killed in his Maplewood home. The shootings were carried out by Eric Harris, age 18, and Dylan Klebold, age 17. ", He added, "Our prayers go out to Moussa's family, friends, teammates, classmates, the entire CHS community, our Maplewood-South Orange community and everyone impacted by this senseless and devastating loss due to gun violence. He normally stays to himself. His public defender, Sterling Kinsale, said during a detention hearing Wednesday in Superior Court of Essex County that self-defense could apply to Hernandez. She said that she had sent him to live with his grandmother in Monrovia, Liberias capital, when he was 5 and that he had moved back to this country six years later. Talking to children about death: an age-by-age guide. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Moussa Fofana, 18, a junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., and another student were hit by gunfire on Sunday night. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. August 6, 2021 / 5:22 PM Richland School District Two hires firm to help search for new superintendent. Sign up with your preferences here. Their injuries are listed as serious. Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark, was charged in the murder of Moussa Fofana, a Maplewood high-schooler.courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Investigators have been at the scene, the Underhill Sports Complex, since late Sunday night. It may be questionable where the gun was retrieved from, Kinsale said, but Mr. Hernandez used the gun to defend both he and his brother against individuals who (he) did not know - did not know what their purpose was - and who admitted in discovery as they gave statements to the state that they pursued these individuals with no clear purpose.. residents on Burr Road heard gunfire around 10 p.m. Maplewood Memorial Library on Track for Fall 24 Maplewoodstock Music and Arts Festival 2023 Announces Headliners. "I couldn't sit here and tell you all the things that might go wrong in a criminal prosecution. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He's not a bad kid. Officials said that the death was being treated as a homicide and that no arrests had been made. She said she had seen him earlier on Sunday and later learned of his death online. Richland One Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon issued a statement. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. identified the student as 18-year-old CHS junior, Moussa Fofana. Police officers found Moussa with a gunshot wound shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday near the sports complex after responding to reports of gunfire in the area, according to a statement from Maplewoods police chief, Jimmy DeVaul, and Theodore N. Stephens II, the acting Essex County prosecutor. A community is in mourning after a high school student was killed in Maplewood, New Jersey. And on April 17 a student of Lower Richland High School, Desmond Wilson, was found shot . Essex County prosecutors are reportedly leading the investigation. "He was always so sweet," a friend said. We have activated our emergency protocols to provide mental health support for Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle and Clinton Elementary. It could be a witness issue, it could be an evidence issue, it could be a certain defense being asserted by the defendant.". His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 13. The superintendent of the South Orange-Maplewood School District announced that a student at Columbia High School has passed away. Moussa Fofana became enamored with soccer in middle school, honing his skills at all hours, his mother said. Our thoughts and concerns are with the families at this most difficult time. We offer our sincere condolences to the family in their time of need. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "I was very disappointed and I was very sad," she said, at one point near tears. Students and staff flee as two heavily armed teenagers go on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. MAPLEWOOD, NJ The superintendent of the South Orange-Maplewood School District announced late on Tuesday that a student at Columbia High School has passed away. Travis Gilmore, Jr., 18, is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a firearm during a violent crime, according to the Columbia Police Department. Email from MMS Principal Dara Gronau at 11:13 a.m., June 7, 2021: As you learned in an earlier communication from Dr. Taylor, our community tragically lost a current CHS student who attended MMS for all three years of middle school. Sanchez later sent an email to CHS parents confirming that the deceased student was an 11th grader, and that another student was hospitalized. "If you didn't have money for lunch, he would pay for his lunch. Until such time as information is received, we are making preparations for addressing the needs of our students, staff and families. We are activating the County Grief Counseling Services via the Traumatic Loss Coalition, to support our students and staff.". Moussa Fofana, 18, a junior at Maplewood's Columbia High School, was shot and killed by a stranger on June 6 while walking through the school's Underhill Sports Complex. Weve got to have some accountability for people who are unlawfully carrying firearms.

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