READ MORE: 'Loss To The World': Maplewood Shooting Victim Mourned. Yohan Hernandez, 20, was taken into custody on August 5, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. 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. MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A northern New Jersey community is mourning the loss of an 11th grade student who was fatally shot on his way to a friend's house. "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.". Investigators are gathering information now so additional details are limited. The school's record on student . He didn't release the age of the second victim but said the student was hospitalized. A positive light in our world has dimmed, and our hearts are forever saddened., Meanwhile, 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 Underhill Field and that while authorities had not yet given specifics, it looks like a student may have died.. She said she had seen him earlier on Sunday and later learned of his death online. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. A second student, not identified by officials, was shot in the leg and was able to run for help. We have activated our emergency protocols to provide mental health support for Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle and Clinton Elementary. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Another 16-year-old student suffered minor injuries but did not go to the hospital. The 17-year-old suspect fled the scene in an . A police officer answered. 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. Officials have not disclosed why the two teens were at the Underhill Field sports complex, a little under a mile from the high school. 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. Sanchez later sent an email to CHS parents confirming that the deceased student was an 11th grader, and that another student was hospitalized. "He . 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. 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. We are activating the County Grief Counseling Services via the Traumatic Loss Coalition, to support our students and staff.". Friends said Fofana and the other teen were cutting through the field to go to a friend's house to watch a late-night boxing match. If you have info to help find the suspect (s) contact @midlandcstopper. 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 took virtual classes all morning, and then played soccer every other hour, his mother, Hawa Fofana, said. We offer our sincere condolences to the family in their time of need. Maplewood Middle School Principal Dara Gronau also sent a letter out to the MMS community late Monday morning, confirming that both the deceased victim and the injured victim were MMS alumni and offering counseling and support to students. 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. "Broke my heart, first time I heard it," school crossing guard Wilbert Pitt said. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 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. The brothers, she said, were very close. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. Officials said that the death was being treated as a homicide and that no arrests had been made. 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. . 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. This article has been updated at 10:03 a.m. with more information from CHS Principal Frank Sanchez, confirmed that the victim was an 11th grader, and that another student was injured. In July, authorities offered a $50,000 reward for information about the deadly shooting. / CBS New York. "It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm there was a shooting last night with multiple victims at Underhill. Maplewood police found Fofana dead at the scene, and another student, also 18, shot in the leg. pic.twitter.com/UmUSTVTSr5. Watch Maplewood Patch for more developments. The complaint does not indicate who is Aleman.. Friends said Fofana aspired to be a professional soccer player, adding that after school he often looked after his younger brother to help his mom, who owns a business in town. The vehicle was tracked by surveillance video and it was seen parking in Irvington. A community is in mourning after a high school student was killed in Maplewood, New Jersey. The 20-year-old Newark man accused of fatally shooting an 18-year-old high school student in Maplewood told police he shot a gun after someone took a swing at him while trying to protect himself and his younger brother, according to court documents and his attorney. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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). It was one of the deadliest school shooting incidents in American history. "Im the mother, somebody shot my son and my son was not a criminal," said Fofana. Until such time as information is received, we are making preparations for addressing the needs of our students, staff and families. 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. Dr. Ronald G. Taylor, the South Orange-Maplewood schools superintendent, said in a letter to parents and staff members that the shooting was an inconceivable calamity., Suzanne Fein, who was among Moussas middle school teachers, described him to the local news website The Village Green as a student who never went without a thank you and a kind smile, grateful for all who engaged with him.. 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 . Example video title will go here for this video. With a police vehicles lights flashing around them, investigators worked to piece together what had happened the night before, and local residents expressed shock that a fatal shooting had occurred in what they said was a typically quiet neighborhood. Calling Fofana's death a tragedy, Gov. The athletic field serves Columbia High School in Maplewood, but is located .8 miles from the school. Columbia University has one of the worst crime and safety records in the nation, according to multiple reports on higher education. The Essex County Proescutor's Office said the 17-year-old student had a "non-life-threatening" gunshot wound. 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. 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. ", 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. Here is Superintendent Taylor's full letter: Dear South Orange & Maplewood School Community. Getty Images / David Dee. 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. We will follow up with additional communication as we receive clearance from the local law enforcement and the family. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. COLUMBIA, S.C. Deputies from the Richland County Sheriff's Department have a 17-year-old suspect in custody following a fight that left two 16-year-old students injured at a Richland Two high . Fofana said she wants justice. No arrest (s) yet. The district was on all-remote learning until the last few months, a situation that frustrated some parents (read more). "The fact that this can happen here in Maplewood, you know, it's worrisome," 10th grader Scott Barton said. Monitor this social media platform for updates. This has not been confirmed by authorities. She cut the caller off and tried Moussas phone using FaceTime. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A teen has been arrested in . 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. Acting Prosecutor Fennelly and South Orange-Maplewood Schools Superintendent Ronald Taylor (whose letter from Monday morning is below) did not give further information about the students. August 6, 2021 / 5:22 PM 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. 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. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Moussa was pronounced dead about a half-hour later, they said. We offer our sincere condolences to the family in their time of need. High School Student Fatally Shot Near Soccer Field Where He Excelled, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/nyregion/maplewood-shooting.html, Moussa Fofana. CPD Chief Holbrook said one person was dead and two were injured in the shooting that happened at 12:19 p.m. Every single time when I was stressed out, he'd walk up to me and he would just sit with me and he would talk to me about it. Tragically, the police have verified that both victims were Columbia High School students. We will follow up with additional communication as we receive clearance from the local law enforcement and the family," Taylor's letter concluded. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His public defender . Richland School District Two hires firm to help search for new superintendent. Ms. Michaelson, 18, said she often watched Moussa practicing soccer in the street or in his backyard. Banned Book Readings And More Planned For Maplewood 'Day Of Action', Gaze Over South Mountain Preserve From Maplewood Home Just Listed, Around Maplewood: Tax Protest + Mom Mourns Sons + Real Estate, Take better care of your bones Join HSS for a new webinar on 5/3, Lunch & Learn: Discover the Gift of Funeral & Cremation Preplanning, Expressions of Love+Unity Open Mic Showcase, Help Homeless Families by Attending Millburn/Short Hills Rummage Sale, Whos Hiring In Maplewood: This Weeks Newest Job Openings, Apartment Rental Scam Reported In Newark; Cops Search For Suspects, Flood Warning Extended For Essex County Until 11 PM Monday, Business That Hires Staff With Autism Holds Grand Opening In Maplewood. A student who never went without a thank you and a kind smile, grateful for all who engaged with him. Also, all activities at Underhill field are canceled while the investigation proceeds. "He was always so sweet," a friend said. Moussa Fofana. 18-year-old arrested in connection with shooting that killed Columbia High School student.
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