He never gave problems to anybody., Moussa was killed near the Maplewood soccer field where he played for Columbia High School. Weve got to have some accountability for people who are unlawfully carrying firearms. Local journalism needs your support. The defendant claimed that after he shot, he put a gun on a table and another individual who he could not recall, picked up the gun and continued shooting, said Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards. "While I cannot comment formally on an ongoing investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office," he said, "I have been actively involved in conversations with our Maplewood Police Department and our local school district leaders since Sunday evening. If you need any suggestions on how to discuss this sad news with your child, our team of social workers and counselors at MMS have suggested the following resources. The pandemic may have upended his life in other ways over the past academic year, his third in high school, but it could not dim his passion for the game. Caren Lissner , Patch Staff Posted Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:59 am ET . No arrests have been made. He said, Once again were going to be talking about the loss of a young person at the hands of somebody with a gun., Investigators found one victim deceased at the scene, the other two were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Tragically, the police have verified that both victims were Columbia High School students. He's a really good person," neighbor Janae Allen said. Hawa Fofana said she was informed by the Essex County Prosecutor's office Tuesday morning that Yohan Hernandez struck a deal and would plead guilty. 'Its not something that you typically see': Unique tree carving spotted by Cordova Police Department, Local Students head to Disney World to battle out their cooking skills at the Cook Around The World Competition, May features the Moon and the celestial twins, Groundbreaking singer, activist Harry Belafonte has died, Buffalo school bus driver fired after threatening to shoot students, New Orleans senior shatters U.S. record with 125 college offers, $9 million in scholarships. Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutors Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. Holbrook said, Its disturbing and we are sick of it. "He . The Essex County Prosecutors Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force has been assigned to investigate. NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police arrested and charged a Newark man with the murder of Moussa Fofana, an 18-year-old who died in a shooting near Columbia High School in Maplewood. At this time, out of respect for the family and due to the ongoing nature of the police investigation, we are unable to share the names of the affected students. An attorney for Hernandez refused to comment on the plea deal. Hernandezs attorney said there were requests that the brother give up a bag that he had. The brother ran behind Hernandez and two males approached him, he told police. He also identified the second victim as 17 years old. As Columbia High School parents and members of our community, Marie and I are absolutely heartbroken. 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. Investigators are gathering information now so additional details are limited. Got photos? Activities previously scheduled at Underhill Field have been canceled due to the ongoing police investigation as well as outdoor activities at neighboring Clinton Elementary School. It does not indicate who entered and exited the vehicle. The Columbia Police Department has arrested a 20-year-old Columbia woman for murder after locating unidentifiable human remains in north Columbia. The Maplewood teenager was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:24 p.m. 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/. Out of respect for the family we are not sharing the names of the students. The District will provide updated information to staff and the District families as it is received. Investigators have been at the scene, the Underhill Sports Complex, since late Sunday night. NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police arrested and charged a Newark man with the murder of Moussa Fofana, an 18-year-old who died in a shooting near Columbia High School in Maplewood. The staff retiree celebration scheduled for Monday evening is postponed. The person on the bike, who was identified as Hernandezs brother during the court hearing Wednesday, went into a dugout on the baseball field, the witness told detectives. Authorities wrote in court documents that Hernandez waived his Miranda rights and gave detectives a statement. "He didnt deserve to be shot just like thatOur life is never going to be the same, never.". The school's record on student . Just after 9:30 p.m., neighbors heard gunshots. 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. Fofana played soccer for Columbia High School in the fall. CPD confirmed a 16-year-old died in the shooting. Investigators were seen searching the bleachers, the field and the track for evidence Monday morning. "The fact that this can happen here in Maplewood, you know, it's worrisome," 10th grader Scott Barton said. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. All rights reserved, Jared Leto and Doja Cat Wore Outfits Very Inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's Cat, Choupette, Met Gala 2023: Start Time, Theme, Guests & Everything Else to Know, 20 Students Injured in Long Island School Bus Crash With Pickup Truck, Here's How to Watch 2023 Met Gala Celebrity Arrivals, Met Gala 2023 Live Updates: Fashion Highlights From Carpet, These Are Some of The Best Met Gala Looks in The Last Decade. We will continue working with the Columbia Police Department to fully investigate this homicide., Rutherford said. "I couldn't sit here and tell you all the things that might go wrong in a criminal prosecution. A high school student was killed in a shooting late Sunday night at a sports complex near Columbia High School in Maplewood. Another student was also injured in the shooting, CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported Monday. On April 21, the Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford identified the teenager as DeMarion Corbett, 16 of Columbia. CPD found three victims at the scene, a 16, 17 and 18-year-old. Taylor said some events and procedures around the high school and nearby elementary school are changed for now: Superintendent Taylor wrote, "At this time, out of respect for the family and due to the ongoing nature of the police investigation, we are unable to share the names of the affected students. The shootings were carried out by Eric Harris, age 18, and Dylan Klebold, age 17. We will follow up with additional communication as we receive clearance from the local law enforcement and the family.. ", He added, "We understand that this loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions not only for our students, but also for members of our staff and parent community. The other 2 male victims who are at a local hospital are 18 & 17-years-old. The South Orange & Maplewood School District and CHS have a Crisis Intervention Team made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this. One of them took a swing at him, Hernandez said. A student who never went without a thank you and a kind smile, grateful for all who engaged with him. "This was a child that had so many dreams, and his life was taken away in an instant, so he deserves more," she said. Also, all activities at Underhill field are canceled while the investigation proceeds. She sounded stunned that someone would kill him. 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. Please include the articles headline. "Instead of going all the way around, you can cut through Underhill and I guess they got into an altercation with some people," said Joe Fabiano, a classmate and friend of Fofana. First published on August 6, 2021 / 5:22 PM. 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). Gary Caskey / Reuters file Homicides are rare in Maplewood. COLUMBIA A pair of 17-year-old Dreher High School students have been arrested and charged as adults in the shooting death of an A.C. Flora High School senior, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott . We are sharing this information with parents and families to give you the opportunity to discuss this terrible loss with your child in a manner that feels most comfortable for your family and your child. Columbia University has one of the worst crime and safety records in the nation, according to multiple reports on higher education. All rights reserved, was shot and killed by a stranger on June 6, 20 Students Injured in Long Island School Bus Crash With Pickup Truck, Man Charged With Murder in 31-Year-Old Cold Case Killing Of Queens Teen: DA, Met Gala 2023: Start Time, Theme, Guests & Everything Else to Know, Met Gala 2023 Live Updates: Fashion Highlights From Carpet, Here's How to Watch 2023 Met Gala Celebrity Arrivals, These Are Some of The Best Met Gala Looks in The Last Decade. courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, 18-year-old high school student in Maplewood, was arrested on a murder charge last week, Moussa Fofana, a Columbia High School student, community to rally in support of his mother. We offer our sincere condolences to the family in their time of need. 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 . The death of the popular . Ridge View High School student Tony Abrams, 17, is . The injured student was transported to a local hospital or treatment. He didn't release the age of the second victim but said the student was hospitalized. Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Later, Fennelly identified the student as 18-year-old CHS junior, Moussa Fofana. Superintendent Taylor said Monday, "It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm there was a shooting last night with multiple victims at Underhill. 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 . Nothing pleased Moussa more than human connection. This inconceivable calamity is undoubtedly a devastating blow to our students, staff and community. Dr. Ronald Taylor later sent a letter to the community, calling the incident a devastating blow and noting that the BOE retirement ceremony scheduled for Monday night would be canceled, and that all activities at Underhill Field and outdoor activities at Clinton would be canceled for the day: We are in close communication with the authorities. 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. This has not been confirmed by authorities. Fennelly confirmed the incident took place at Underhill Field, but that the time was unclear. At approximately 9:38 pm on Sunday, Stephens said, Maplewood police officers were dispatched to area of Underhill Field on reports of a shooting. 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. But school Principal Frank Sanchez identified Fofana as an 11th grader, according to a report in Village Green. According to Taylor, both victims were students of Columbia High School. The vehicle was tracked by surveillance video and it was seen parking in Irvington. 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. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Our Crisis Team has been deployed to provide additional support and counseling to students and staff as needed at Columbia High and Lower Richland High. MORE: Albany man charged with attempted . Talking to children about death: an age-by-age guide. Out of respect for the family, currently, we are unable to share additional details of the students death. Hernandez at times gazed upwards towards the ceiling as he appeared over Zoom from the Essex County jail. A hearing was initially set for Thursday, but it was postponed a week. ", 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. Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee also commented Monday afternoon. Moussa was born in New York and then lived in New Jersey for several years. He was always so sweet, she said. MAPLEWOOD, NJ Authorities in Maplewood are still investigating an incident in which an 18-year-old Columbia High School senior was shot to death on the school's ball fields Sunday and a 17-year-old student was injured. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. I have been in direct contact with Police Chief Duval, Mayor McGeehee, Principal Sanchez, Principal Gronau and Principal Connors. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The second student, also male, sustained a wound that was not considered life-threatening, officials said. Within an hour, 18-year-old Harris and his 17-year-old partner Dylan Klebold a fellow Columbine High School student and Brown's friend since first grade were dead. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) Richland deputies say the suspect in today's stabbing incident at Ridge View High School has been charged as an adult. Deputy Chief Melron Kelly posted an update online, saying all the victims are school-aged and male. Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact their local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. The story was updated at 11:20 a.m. with a message from Maplewood Middle School Principal Dara Gronau. Adams is not a student at the school, he said. "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.". The superintendent for the South Orange and Maplewood School District sent a letter to families notifying them of the shooting. 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. ABC 17 News reporters saw a Columbia Police Department crime scene investigation van at the scene Wednesday morning and again Wednesday afternoon. Officials in Maplewood say 18-year-old Moussa Fofana was gunned down . READ MORE: 'Loss To The World': Maplewood Shooting Victim Mourned. 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.. For the second time in less than a week, we are mourning the loss of one of our students. New Jersey Gov. Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. Two individuals coming from Underhill field entered the sedan at 9:30 p.m. and it drove off immediately after the shooting, the complaint said. He said there would be more information later Monday. Richland School District Two hires firm to help search for new superintendent. Shots were fired from the dugout, but the witness did not see who fired the shots, according to court documents. DeMarion Corbett, a junior at Columbia High School, was killed yesterday (April 20). The witness was not identified in the document and it did not indicate why they were following the person. 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.