15-Year-Old Charged in Connection with Accidental Shooting

Posted Fri, Jul 11, 2025, From Bergen County Prosecutor's Office
15-Year-Old Charged in Connection with Accidental Shooting

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announces charges against a juvenile in connection with a shooting investigation in Elmwood Park, NJ. This investigation is being conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Elmwood Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Foligno.

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, at approximately 5:04 p.m., the Elmwood Park Police Department responded to a shooting on Donor Avenue. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 15-year-old victim shot in the hand and leg. The victim was transported via ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, NJ, received treatment, and was subsequently released. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were notified, responded to the scene, and launched a joint investigation with the Elmwood Park Police Department. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigations also responded to assist.

Preliminary information provided to detectives was that a drive-by shooting occurred on Donor Avenue. However, the investigation revealed that a drive-by shooting did not occur. Rather, detectives determined that the 15-year-old victim was in possession of a firearm inside a residence on Donor Avenue and accidentally shot himself.

On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Elmwood Park Police Department located the 15-year-old juvenile and placed him in protective custody. The juvenile was charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: second-degree providing false report to law enforcement authorities, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-4a; fourth-degree possession of a firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:58-6.1b; and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law, N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1a. The juvenile was released to the custody of a parent or guardian pending further action by Bergen County Superior Court Family Law Division.

Prosecutor Mark Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. He would like to thank the Elmwood Park Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
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