Press Release: the attack was the direct result and motivated by gang activity within the facility
By: Bill Greenwood
MONROE Eleven residents of the New Jersey Training School for Boys have been charged in connection with an April 8 incident in which three officers were injured.
Eight of those residents are under the age of 18 but were charged June 15 as adults, according to a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. They are Troy Bethea, 17, of Camden; Aaron Esdaile, 16, of Asbury Park; Semaj Gilmore, 17, of Camden; Gerard Harreld, 17, of Jersey City; Tyrone Larkins, 16, of Newark; Tyshon Singletary, 17, of Paterson; Ernesto Vanegas, 16, of Jersey City; and Laquan Willis, 17, of East Orange.
The eight juveniles all were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and riot, and Mr. Singletary also was charged with attempting to murder two of the officers, according to the release.
Three 18-year-olds previously were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and riot, according to the release. They are Naquan Chance, of Trenton; Domonic Giddings, of Paterson; and Terrell Harris, of Jersey City.
According to the release, the attack "was the direct result and motivated by gang activity within the facility," and tougher sentences will be sought as a result.
The attack took place April 8 at 1:30 a.m. and forced the Training School to go on lockdown until April 10. All three injured officers were taken to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, and all were released by April 13. The most serious injuries were a laceration to the face and back of the head as well as a broken eye socket, both suffered by the same officer, Juvenile Justice Commission spokeswoman Sharon Luachaire said in April.
The investigation is continuing, and more charges could be filed later. The charges against all 11 defendants are awaiting a grand jury hearing.