Somerset County Man Indicted for Murder of New Brunswick Teen Shot In Church Parking Lot

A 19-year-old Somerset County man has been indicted in the murder of 17-year-old who was shot to death in a Somerset County church parking lot last October.

Dequan Rogers, age 20, of Franklin Township, was indicted last week in connection with the Oct. 13, fatal shooting of Joell Burton, 17, of New Brunswick, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano stated.

Burton was shot following a verbal and physical confrontation with Dequan Rogers, Investigators revealed. During the altercation, Dequan Rogers pulled out a handgun, and fired one shot, striking Mr. Burton, causing his death.

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor:

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Oct. 13, Franklin Township Police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting victim who was presently in a church parking lot on Somerset Street.

Responding officers found Joell Burton, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest in the church parking lot. The teen was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

At 9:17 p.m., additional officers responded to a 911 call reporting a stabbing on Victor Street, very close to where Joell Burton’s body was found. Upon arrival, Police found Dequan Rogers, 19, suffering from a stab wound to his upper torso.

Rogers has been charged with first degree murder, second degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second degree unlawful possession of a handgun and fourth degree underage possession of a handgun.

Dequan Rogers was taken into custody on Oct. 14. He has remained in the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail since his arrest.

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