Earlier today a Union County Superior Court Judge agreed to a prosecutor’s request that the suspect in last Decembers fatal shooting outside of Skate 22 in Union be charged as an adult.
As such, the authorities are now allowed to release the suspect’s name, said Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.
Jaquan Bell DOB: 7/13/1992 is charged him with the Dec. 26, 2008 homicide of Jean D’Haiti outside of Skate 22 in Union Township, said Romankow.
The Union County Homicide Task Force arrested Bell on March 4, 2008 at his school around 8:15 a.m. He is charged with 1st degree murder and weapons offenses, said Romankow.
Judge Frederic R. McDaniel, found probable cause to waive Bell’s case to adult court.
Judge Douglas M. Fasciale, set bail at $400,000. Bell will continue to be held at the Juvenile Detention center.
Nearly 700 people gathered at Skate 22 for a Christmas night party that was heavily promoted on websites like Myspace, said Romankow. The party which drew people between the ages of 13 and 25 was scheduled to go from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. but ended early due to numerous fights that broke out inside the rink, said Romankow.
According to the investigation, around Midnight a fight between two groups of teenagers escalated, shots were fired and Jean D’Haiti, 16, of Elizabeth was struck and died at the scene at 12:29 a.m. |
