Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Man, 28, Shot Dead Central Jersey Man, 28, Shot Dead
Central Jersey Man, 28, Shot Dead A 28-year-old man from New Brunswick was shot and killed, authorities said. Markel Williams was shot multiple times on  Sunday, June 4 at 10:54 p.m., according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. New Brunswick police responded to Throop Avenue and Delavan Street after a report of a shooting. The victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased, Ciccone said. Initial investigation has revealed that this does not appear to be a random act of violence and there does not appear to be a threat to the public,…

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by Jon Craig
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Teen Girl Faces Attempted Murder, Robbery After Firing At Group At Central Jersey Mall Teen Girl Faces Attempted Murder, Robbery After Firing At Group At Central Jersey Mall
Teen Girl Faces Attempted Murder, Robbery After Firing At Group At Central Jersey Mall A 15-year-old girl is facing charges of attempted murder and armed robbery after stealing the sneakers of three people at gunpoint and firing at a group of people at a Central Jersey mall earlier this month. Officers responded to the area near the SureStay Hotel by Best Western on reports of people running from the Brunswick Square Mall after hearing gunshots on May 13,  East Brunswick Police Chief Frank LoSacco said. After finding a spent shell casing in the parking lot of a Habit Burger along Route 18, police later received a separate report of three people robbed of their sneak…

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by Cecilia Levine
Franklin Township, NJ
Police & Fire
3 Teens Charged In Deadly Shooting Of Taxi Driver In Somerset County: Prosecutor 3 Teens Charged In Deadly Shooting Of Taxi Driver In Somerset County: Prosecutor
3 Teens Charged In Deadly Shooting Of Taxi Driver In Somerset County: Prosecutor Three teen boys have been charged, two of them with murder, in last week’s shooting of a taxi driver investigators say was motivated by robbery. The first two suspects, ages 14 and 13, of Somerset and New Brunswick, were each charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, first-degree conspiracy, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and various weapons charges, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald said Monday, May 15. The third suspect, age 13, of New Brunswick, was charged with robbery and conspiracy. The charges come after officers responding to a shooting report …

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by Valerie Musson
Edison, NJ
Police & Fire
Woman Who Posed As New Brunswick HS Student Avoids Jail Time: Prosecutor Woman Who Posed As New Brunswick HS Student Avoids Jail Time: Prosecutor
Woman Who Posed As New Brunswick HS Student Avoids Jail Time: Prosecutor A 29-year-old woman from New Brunswick avoided jail time after attending high school classes with a fake ID, authorities said. Hyejeong Shin, of New Brunswick, must complete a pre-trial intervention program, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. The ruling was made Monday, May 15 by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Craig Corson. Shin, a graduate of Rutgers University, had used a fake birth certificate to attend four days of classes at New Brunswick High School. The pre-trial program is for first-time offenders.  "This is an unfortunate event," Superintendent Au…

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by Jon Craig
Hamilton Township, NJ
Obituaries
‘We Are All Devastated:’ Mercer County Middle Schooler Jordan Jefferson Dies Suddenly At 13 ‘We Are All Devastated:’ Mercer County Middle Schooler Jordan Jefferson Dies Suddenly At 13
‘We Are All Devastated:’ Mercer County Middle Schooler Jordan Jefferson Dies Suddenly At 13 Tributes and donations are pouring in as the unexpected death of a Mercer County middle school student devastates the community. Jordan Jefferson died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick on Friday, April 21, his obituary says. He was 13. Born in Trenton, Jordan was raised in Hamilton and had been attending Crockett Middle School. Jordan was described as a “simple, loving, and caring soul that impacted everyone he came across,” reads his memorial. He liked listening to music, playing video games, and dancing — an activity that helped both manifest and demonstrate hi…

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by Valerie Musson
Edison, NJ
Obituaries
New Brunswick City Worker Andrea Diaz Dies Suddenly, 22 New Brunswick City Worker Andrea Diaz Dies Suddenly, 22
New Brunswick City Worker Andrea Diaz Dies Suddenly, 22 Support was surging for the family of a 22-year-old New Brunswick woman who died suddenly in April 2023. Andrea Diaz was being remembered on a GoFundMe campaign as a "loving daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt and friend to many." The campaign had raised more than $8,200 as of Sunday, May 7. According to her obituary, Andrea had been working for the City of New Brunswick at the time of her passing. Services were held at Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., with interment at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia. Click here for Andrea Diaz's complete obituary and here to do…

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by Cecilia Levine
Edison, NJ
Obituaries
Middlesex County Man, 32, Dies Day After Being Struck By Car Middlesex County Man, 32, Dies Day After Being Struck By Car
Middlesex County Man, 32, Dies Day After Being Struck By Car Middlesex County resident Salvatore "Sal" Caiola died Thursday, April 20 at RWJ. He was 32. Sal was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street on Wednesday, April 19, and taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day, his obituary says. Born in New Brunswick, Sal went to St. Matthew’s School until eighth grade while serving as an Altar boy. He then attended St. Joseph's High School, where he played as a goalie on the ice hockey team. Sal spent four years as an Electrician Apprentice for Tom Lacik Electric after earning his electrician degree and “was very ha…

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by Valerie Musson
Edison, NJ
News
Central Jersey Mom Battling Cancer 'Taking Over Her Body' Central Jersey Mom Battling Cancer 'Taking Over Her Body'
Central Jersey Mom Battling Cancer 'Taking Over Her Body' A cancer diagnosis was bad enough for a Central Jersey mom. Even worse, during treatment, she'll be away from her 5-month-old baby. Taryn Jozefowicz Snell was diagnosed with AML Leukemia on April 15, and is undergoing aggressive treatment from the hematology/oncology group at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick. More than $43,000 had been raised as of Monday, April 24 on a GoFundMe campaign launched by Emily Pareti of Milltown. Taryn will receive two types of chemo together: One for one week and the other for three. Then, she will be in the hospital for three weeks in r…

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by Jon Craig
Bethlehem, PA
Obituaries
Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29 Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29
Tributes Flood Social Media After Death Of Beloved Lehigh Valley Resident Derrell Kelley At 29 Tributes are pouring in for Derrell Lamar Kelley, who died on Saturday, April 8 at his Easton, Pennsylvania, home at the age of 29. Born in Rahway, New Jersey, Derrell — affectionately known as “Rellooo Hellooo” — spent time in Roselle before moving out of state, his obituary says. Derrell played basketball as a Forward before graduating from Freedom High School and earning an associate’s degree from Northampton Community College. He worked in the Food and Nutrition Department at the Department of Veterans Affairs and at Loves’ Lounge in Allentown. He also graduated from the Boyz II Men …

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by Valerie Musson
Northern Valley, NJ
Lifestyle
Get Hangry: New Fried Chicken Joint Spices Up Northvale Get Hangry: New Fried Chicken Joint Spices Up Northvale
Get Hangry: New Fried Chicken Joint Spices Up Northvale A fried chicken restaurant is bringing the Nashville heat to Bergen County. Hangry Joe's, a Nashville hot chicken franchise with locations in 12 states, recently opened a location in Northvale.  The franchise has been aggressively expanding in New Jersey, with another location in Florham Park and locations set to open in Closter, New Brunswick, Ridgewood and Trenton. Nashville Hot Chicken is just what it sounds like: deep fried chicken covered in spicy hot paste served on white bread, preferably with a pickle. "It is as appealing to the palette as it is to your eyes," Frank Cocuzza, who r…

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by Sam Barron
Franklin Township, NJ
Lifestyle
Support Rises For Somerset County Family As Grandma Dies During Visit With Newborn Grandchild Support Rises For Somerset County Family As Grandma Dies During Visit With Newborn Grandchild
Support Rises For Somerset County Family As Grandma Dies During Visit With Newborn Grandchild Support is on the rise for a Somerset County family after the unexpected death of a beloved grandmother during a visit with her newborn grandchild. Alekya Siddula says in a GoFundMe that her mother, Radha Siddula, came to visit her newborn baby and “suddenly collapsed” on Tuesday, April 4. “Ambulatory Services quickly responded and did CPR as she suffered from Brain Aneurysm and Cardiac Arrest back to back,” reads the fundraiser. The new grandmother was then taken to RWJ Hospital in Somerville, where her heart was stabilized, before being flown to the New Brunswick location …

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by Valerie Musson
Edison, NJ
Obituaries
NJ Native, Devoted Dad Ryan Mercado Dies Unexpectedly, 31 NJ Native, Devoted Dad Ryan Mercado Dies Unexpectedly, 31
NJ Native, Devoted Dad Ryan Mercado Dies Unexpectedly, 31 New Jersey native and devoted dad Ryan James Mercado died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, March 30. He was 31. Born in New Brunswick, Ryan had lived in North Carolina but kept his roots in the Garden State, his obituary and social media pages say. He worked for a temp agency as a warehouse worker and held several other positions. Ryan was known for his caring nature and embraced his role as a loving father to his young daughter, Aliyah. “Above all things, family was important to Ryan,” reads his obituary. “Whether it was spending time with his daughter or enjoying family time a…

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by Valerie Musson