CPD found three victims at the scene, a 16, 17 and 18-year-old. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. He would just make my day 10 times better.". Maplewoood Police Chief Jim DeVaul referred questions to the ECPO. She really wants to focus on achieving justice for Moussa, Ostmann told NJ Advance Media. Weve got to have some accountability for people who are unlawfully carrying firearms. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He never gave problems to anybody.. Yohan . The 17-year-old student is accused of stabbing a 16-year-old male several times in the upper body before running from the scene. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) Richland deputies say the suspect in today's stabbing incident at Ridge View High School has been charged as an adult. We are sharing this information with parents and families to give you the opportunity to discuss this terrible loss with your child in a manner that feels most comfortable for your family and your child. One of them took a swing at him, Hernandez said. New Jersey Gov. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Just after 9:30 p.m., neighbors heard gunshots. 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 . We will follow up with additional communication as we receive clearance from the local law enforcement and the family. Adding to the shock was the crimes setting: near the New Jersey soccer field where Moussa distinguished himself as a leading scorer during his high school teams most recent season. She was on her way to Pennsylvania late Monday to see Moussas father and had not told her 5-year-old son, Muhammad, about Moussas death, she said. Because of the situation, Ridge View and nearby Rice Creek Elementary School were put on secure status -- meaning the school day continued but no one is allowed to enter or exit the buildings. Fennelly confirmed the incident took place at Underhill Field, but that the time was unclear. Got photos? Calling Fofana's death a tragedy, Gov. A witness who was with Fofana at the baseball field told detectives they were chasing someone on a bike, according to court documents in the case. By approximately 11:35 a.m., Klebold and Harris had killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded more than 20 other people. DeMarion Corbett, a junior at Columbia High School, was killed yesterday (April 20). 2 min read. 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. Get a free morning newsletter with news in Maplewood or any New Jersey town: https://patch.com/subscribe, https://health.choc.org/talking-to-children-about-death-an-age-by-age-guide/, https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-with-grief/. Layla Michaelson, a neighbor and Columbia High School senior, said in an interview that she first met Moussa when she was in the sixth grade and that her family had moved in across the street from him and his family two years ago. Tragically, the police have verified that both victims were Columbia High School students. His public defender, Sterling Kinsale, said during a detention hearing Wednesday in Superior Court of Essex County that self-defense could apply to Hernandez. ", 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. the owner of a popular New York City comedy club. Officials in Maplewood say 18-year-old Moussa Fofana was gunned down . The vehicle was tracked by surveillance video and it was seen parking in Irvington. 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 . He was a very sweet dude," friend Joseph Fabiano added. The District will provide updated information to staff and the District families as it is received. Email caren.lissner@patch.com. 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.. With this devastating news, I have confirmed with our Board of Education that the retiree celebration scheduled for this evening will be canceled and postponed to a later date. Editors note: This article has been updated at 1 p.m with the name of the victim, Moussa Fofana, an 18-year-old CHS student. She cut the caller off and tried Moussas phone using FaceTime. The athletic field serves Columbia High School in Maplewood, but is located .8 miles from the school. I dont think a day went by without him playing.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. This has not been confirmed by authorities. 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. With this devastating news, I have confirmed with our Board of Education that the retiree celebration scheduled for this evening will be canceled and postponed to a later date. #ColumbiaPDSC officers are investigating a shooting incident at Riverside Apartments on Lucius Road. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. June 8, 2021 / 10:10 AM Watch Maplewood Patch for more developments. ", He added, "Our prayers go out to Moussa's family, friends, teammates, classmates, the entire CHS community, our Maplewood-South Orange community and everyone impacted by this senseless and devastating loss due to gun violence. While there are still so many unanswered questions, we ask that everyone respect both family's privacy at this very difficult time.". He took virtual classes all morning, and then played soccer every other hour, his mother, Hawa Fofana, said. A student was seriously hurt Thursday after he was stabbed by a classmate outside Long Reach High School, the Howard County Police Department said. The attorney for Hernandez has argued argued there was some sort of altercation that lead to the shooting, and his client was acting in self-defense even though the circumstances of what happened the night of the shooting are still murky. August 6, 2021 / 5:22 PM 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 school. Moussa Fofana became enamored with soccer in middle school, honing his skills at all hours, his mother said. A New York Times report Monday night said that Fofana's mother was not sure why her son was there, and that a friend called to tell her he had been shot. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. It does not indicate who entered and exited the vehicle. Until such time as information is received, we are making preparations for addressing the needs of our students, staff and families. Example video title will go here for this video. "He . Hawa Fofana said she was informed by the Essex County Prosecutor's office Tuesday morning that Yohan Hernandez struck a deal and would plead guilty. We are also keeping the other student who was injured in our thoughts. Their injuries are listed as serious. Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens and Maplewood Police Chief Jim Duval said Monday that the incident is being investigated as a homicide, and no arrests had been made. Phil Lipof reports. The staff retiree celebration scheduled for Monday evening is postponed. Investigators talked to multiple people on the scene, collected evidence & are following good leads. That student is expected to survive. First published on June 8, 2021 / 10:10 AM. The District will provide updated information to staff and the District families as it is received. Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin accepted the move, reiterating that Hernandez would be detained as his case on the murder charge moved forward. Travis Gilmore, Jr., 18, is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a firearm during a violent crime, according to the Columbia Police Department. 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. Moussa Fofana, 18, a junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., and another student were hit by gunfire on Sunday night. MORE: Albany man charged with attempted . Moussa, left, became enamored with soccer in middle school, his mother said. It may be questionable where the gun was retrieved from, Kinsale said, but Mr. Hernandez used the gun to defend both he and his brother against individuals who (he) did not know - did not know what their purpose was - and who admitted in discovery as they gave statements to the state that they pursued these individuals with no clear purpose.. As the suspect behind Thursday's fatal stabbing of a Columbia University grad student was awaiting a court appearance on Saturday, the campus mourned yet another murdered classmate and . Police officers found Moussa with a gunshot wound shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday near the sports complex after responding to reports of gunfire in the area, according to a statement from Maplewoods police chief, Jimmy DeVaul, and Theodore N. Stephens II, the acting Essex County prosecutor. Phil Murphy addressed the shooting death at the start of his press briefing on Monday. "If you didn't have money for lunch, he would pay for his lunch. Hernandez allegedly told investigators that his brother said two males were following him. #ColumbiaPDSC Update: A 16-year-old male was fatally injured during the shooting incident on Lucius Road. Essex County prosecutors are reportedly leading the investigation. The 18-year-old was identified as Moussa Fofana. The brother ran behind Hernandez and two males approached him, he told police. Romano was released in 2020 after serving more than 15 years behind bars for attempted murder, he fired a shotgun inside the East Greenbush school in 2004. All rights reserved, Jared Leto and Doja Cat Wore Outfits Very Inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's Cat, Choupette, Met Gala 2023: Start Time, Theme, Guests & Everything Else to Know, 20 Students Injured in Long Island School Bus Crash With Pickup Truck, Here's How to Watch 2023 Met Gala Celebrity Arrivals, Met Gala 2023 Live Updates: Fashion Highlights From Carpet, These Are Some of The Best Met Gala Looks in The Last Decade. At approximately 9:38 pm on Sunday, Stephens said, Maplewood police officers were dispatched to area of Underhill Field on reports of a shooting. Her son was later charged in the killing. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Former Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said that any sort of self-defense claim, as well as witnesses or evidence, can lead prosecutors to make plea deals. No arrests have been made. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Columbine High School shootings, massacre that occurred on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, leaving 15 dead, including the two students responsible for the attack. "While I cannot comment formally on an ongoing investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office," he said, "I have been actively involved in conversations with our Maplewood Police Department and our local school district leaders since Sunday evening. On Tuesday, March 29, we received confirmation of the death of a Columbia High School (CHS) student. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Sign up with your preferences here. Click or tap here to report it. We have to put people in jail and they have to stay in jail., #ColumbiaPDSC officers were dispatched to 3245 Lucius Road around 12:15 p.m. & found the victims. Ms. Michaelson, 18, said she often watched Moussa practicing soccer in the street or in his backyard. He was always so sweet, she said. Ridge View High School student Tony Abrams, 17, is . Yohan Hernandez was arrested on a murder charge last week in the killing of Moussa Fofana, a Columbia High School student, at Underhill Sports Complex on the night of June 6. MUPD originally led the investigation after a mother of a University of Missouri student asked MUPD to conduct a welfare check on her son . Shortly after 12 p.m., the two teens turned their guns on themselves. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. He was a student at Columbia High School. Richland County Sheriff's deputies searched the area using ground and air units and found the suspect around 12:30 p.m. at an off-campus location. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Yohan Hernandez was arrested on a murder charge last week in the killing of Moussa Fofana, a Columbia High School student, at Underhill Sports Complex on the night of June 6. It is with a very heavy heart that we confirm there was a shooting last night with multiple victims at Underhill. 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. Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. ABC 17 News reporters saw a Columbia Police Department crime scene investigation van at the scene Wednesday morning and again Wednesday afternoon. The suspects is being charged as an adult and is being house at the juvenile wing of Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. And on April 17 a student of Lower Richland High School, Desmond Wilson, was found shot . The Maplewood teenager was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:24 p.m. Don't miss Maplewood or South Orange breaking news alerts when they are announced, or get a free daily newsletter each morning with local news. He never gave problems to anybody., Moussa was killed near the Maplewood soccer field where he played for Columbia High School. The Columbia Police Department has arrested a 20-year-old Columbia woman for murder after locating unidentifiable human remains in north Columbia. He didn't release the age of the second victim but said the student was hospitalized. ", Taylor added, "We ask that everyone respect the familys privacy during this difficult time and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.". The person on the bike, who was identified as Hernandezs brother during the court hearing Wednesday, went into a dugout on the baseball field, the witness told detectives. "I was very disappointed and I was very sad," she said, at one point near tears. "He's always either outside playing with a soccer ball. That was later lifted. Maplewood police found Fofana dead at the scene, and another student, also 18, shot in the leg. The Maplewood Middle School family cares deeply for one another. Anyone with information about the shooting is being asked to contact their local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers. 5. "He didnt deserve to be shot just like thatOur life is never going to be the same, never.". 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. Moussa was one of two students from Columbia High School in Maplewood to be struck by gunfire near the Underhill Sports Complex late Sunday, officials said. The superintendent for the South Orange and Maplewood School District sent a letter to families notifying them of the shooting. A high school student was killed in a shooting late Sunday night at a sports complex near Columbia High School in Maplewood. The district was on all-remote learning until the last few months, a situation that frustrated some parents (read more). 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. 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. courtesy of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, 18-year-old high school student in Maplewood, was arrested on a murder charge last week, Moussa Fofana, a Columbia High School student, community to rally in support of his mother. 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. Gilmore, Jr. was arrested Monday by the US Marshals Services Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. Until such time as information is received, we are making preparations for addressing the needs of our students, staff and families. Officials have not disclosed why the two teens were at the Underhill Field sports complex, a little under a mile from the high school. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A teen has been arrested in connection with a shooting that killed a 16-year-old and injured two more teens. Another 16-year-old student suffered minor injuries but did not go to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/UmUSTVTSr5. The injured student was transported to a local hospital or treatment. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. . One person was killed and at least one other was wounded. Fofana said she wants justice. 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.. We offer our sincere condolences to the family in their time of need. Student Moussa Fofana, 18, was killed at Columbia High School's sports field in Maplewood Sunday and another student was injured. pic.twitter.com/FVqwF2EmGm. Sincerely,Dr. Also, all activities at Underhill field are canceled while the investigation proceeds. 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. The older two were taken to the hospital for treatment. Caren Lissner , Patch Staff Posted Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:59 am ET . A report in RLS Media said the death occurred off school grounds. We will continue working with the Columbia Police Department to fully investigate this homicide., Rutherford said. Shots were fired from the dugout, but the witness did not see who fired the shots, according to court documents. "Broke my heart, first time I heard it," school crossing guard Wilbert Pitt said. Watch WIS News 10 at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dr. Ronald Taylor later sent a letter to the community, calling the incident a devastating blow and noting that the BOE retirement ceremony scheduled for Monday night would be canceled, and that all activities at Underhill Field and outdoor activities at Clinton would be canceled for the day: We are in close communication with the authorities. The second student, also male, sustained a wound that was not considered life-threatening, officials said. 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. Kinsale consented to his clients detention at a local county jail because the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has an immigration detainer on Hernandez. He's a really good person," neighbor Janae Allen said. ", He added, "We have activated our emergency protocols to provide mental health support for Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle and Clinton Elementary. Hernandezs attorney said that Fofana, the second victim and a previously unreported third male who was 17 at the time and is now 18 were following Hernandezs younger 16-year-old brother in the park that night. Just after 9:30 p.m., neighbors heard gunshots. WIS News 10 livestreamed CPDs update from the scene. pic.twitter.com/4CPG1nZ8Te. "Instead of going all the way around, you can cut through Underhill and I guess they got into an altercation with some people," said Joe Fabiano, a classmate and friend of Fofana. Taylor said some events and procedures around the high school and nearby elementary school are changed for now: Superintendent Taylor wrote, "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. I was shocked.. "We are saddened by the loss to our school community," Taylor wrote, "and will make every effort to help you and your child as you need. ", Taylor said that this week and in coming weeks, counselors will be available to help anyone who wants "assistance surrounding this loss.". She said that she had sent him to live with his grandmother in Monrovia, Liberias capital, when he was 5 and that he had moved back to this country six years later. Nothing pleased Moussa more than human connection. sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters. Contact information for our counselors and social workers is listed on the second page of this document. A second student, not identified by officials, was shot in the leg and was able to run for help. America endured . COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A Richland School District Two student is recovering at a local hospital after being stabbed on campus Tuesday. The brothers, she said, were very close. Richland School District Two hires firm to help search for new superintendent. Richland County deputies say the stabbing happened around 10 . Another student was also injured in the shooting, CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported Monday. Officials said that the death was being treated as a homicide and that no arrests had been made. She sounded stunned that someone would kill him. 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. Phil Murphy took a moment to acknowledge the victims at the start of the COVID-19 briefing on Monday. CPD Chief Holbrook said one person was dead and two were injured in the shooting that happened at 12:19 p.m. We encourage you, as parents, to also feel free to use our resources. Anyone can read what you share. It was one of the deadliest school shooting incidents in American history. Hernandez told detectives he fled the field at that point, the complaint said. He was always so sweet, a friend said. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. The superintendent of the South Orange-Maplewood School District announced that a student at Columbia High School has passed away. / CBS New York. Neighbors told CBS2 off camera that recently there had been people gathering in the field doing drugs and drinking alcohol, but Sunday's incident was the first time anyone heard of any violence.