Criminal Law

Iselin man charged with police chase crash that killed Edison High student

Iselin man charged with police chase crash that killed Edison High student

WOODBRIDGE, N.J., April 16 (ZFJ) — Mikael Salman, 18, of Iselin, has been charged with causing a crash that killed a juvenile passenger in Woodbridge, New Jersey, on Feb. 19, 2026. On that day, shortly before midnight, Woodbridge Police Officer Khari Manzini, who was uniformed, attempted to pull over a 2003 Nissan Maxima with New York registration on Route 1 heading south for allegedly speeding, according to a statement from the N.
1 dead, 6 injured in Union Chick-fil-A shooting

1 dead, 6 injured in Union Chick-fil-A shooting

UNION, N.J., April 14 (ZFJ) — One person is dead and six people are injured after a shooting at the Chick-fil-A on Route 22 in Union, New Jersey, on Saturday, April 11. The Union Police Department (UPD) responded to the restaurant at about 9:00 p.m. for a report of a shooting, according to a statement from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO). Responding officers found seven victims in total. A customer, Malek Shepherd, 23, of New York City, was pronounced deceased.
Four charged with teen’s murder in College Park

Four charged with teen’s murder in College Park

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 18 (ZFJ) — Four suspects have been charged with the murder of Jefferson Amaya-Ayala, 14, of Washington, D.C., at a park in College Park, Md. The suspects are Jose Merlos-Majano, 18; Alan Josai Garcia-Padilla, 21; and William Cuellar Gutierrez, 19, all of Washington, D.C., and a 17-year-old juvenile from Hyattsville, Md. Amaya-Ayala’s remains were discovered by the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) on Nov. 3, 2025, while searching Indian Creek Stream Valley Park as part of a missing persons investigation with D.
Rutgers student hospitalized after electrocution at Alpha Sigma Phi house

Rutgers student hospitalized after electrocution at Alpha Sigma Phi house

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Jan. 17 (ZFJ) — Police are investigating an incident in which a Rutgers student has been hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries at a residence in New Brunswick on Oct. 15, 2025. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) said in a statement that Rutgers police responded to a disconnected 911 call at about 12:26 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Responding officers found an injured and unresponsive 19-year-old Rutgers student.
Juvenile arrested for Edison murder

Juvenile arrested for Edison murder

EDISON, N.J., Jan. 11 (ZFJ) — A 17-year-old juvenile male has been arrested for the murder of a 17-year-old female in Edison, N.J., on Saturday, Jan. 10. On Saturday, at 1:19 a.m., the Edison Police Department (EPD) received a 911 call reporting a shooting at a residence on Grove Avenue. Responding officers found the female with a gunshot wound at the location, and she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Man charged with Metuchen attempted murder

Man charged with Metuchen attempted murder

METUCHEN, Jan. 7 (ZFJ) — Peter Fragoso, 29, of New Brunswick, N.J., has been charged with the attempted murder of a 23-year-old man from Long Branch, N.J., on Dec. 3, 2025. On Dec. 3, at about 7:34 p.m., the Metuchen Police Department received a 911 call reporting an altercation between two men involving a knife at a residence on Durham Avenue. Responding police officers found the victim with stab wounds. He was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.
Edison man charged with stabbing, child endangerment

Edison man charged with stabbing, child endangerment

EDISON, N.J., Jan. 7 (ZFJ) — Jordan D. Jackson-Small, 35, of Edison, N.J., has been charged with the murder of Imani Smith, 26, of Edison on Dec. 21, 2025. On Dec. 21, at 9:18 a.m., the Edison Police Department received multiple 911 calls, including one by Jackson-Small, reporting a stabbing that occurred in the Robert E. Holmes Gardens public housing complex on Grove Avenue. Responding police officers found Smith with a stab wound to her neck, Jackson-Small, and a three-year-old child.
Human remains in College Park prompt homicide investigation

Human remains in College Park prompt homicide investigation

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Dec. 27 (ZFJ) — Human remains found in a park in College Park on Nov. 3 have prompted a homicide investigation. The Prince George’s County Police Department was assisting the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and FBI Cross Border Task Force with a missing persons investigation when it searched Indian Creek Stream Valley Park and found human remains. The remains were sent to the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which ruled the case a homicide.
Juvenile arrested for false North Brunswick poll bomb threat

Juvenile arrested for false North Brunswick poll bomb threat

NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., Nov. 4 (ZFJ) — A juvenile has been arrested for texting a false bomb threat to a North Brunswick poll on Tuesday, Nov. 4. At about 8:15 a.m. today, the North Brunswick Police Department began receiving several reports of a bomb threat at Livingston Park Elementary School via text message, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. North Brunswick police officers and Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department explosive detection K-9 officers responded to the polling location and cleared it of any bombs.
Trump federalizes DC police, deploys National Guard, federal agents

Trump federalizes DC police, deploys National Guard, federal agents

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (ZFJ) — President Donald Trump federalized the capital’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), deployed 800 D.C. National Guard soldiers, and ordered federal agents to patrol the streets in response to his claims that crime in the city is out of control on Monday, Aug. 11. The District of Columbia is primarily under federal control and has limited local governance under the Home Rule Act. Section 740 of this law allows for the president to federalize the MPD under a state of emergency.