NJ 14-Year-Old Fatally Shot, Manhunt Underway: Police

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot at a Burlington County gas station over the weekend, authorities announced.

Jesse Everett, of Willingboro, was inside a car that had pulled up to get gas at the Phillips 66 in the first block of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Willingboro on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

The car had been reported stolen, according to Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Willingboro Township Public Safety Director Kinamo Lomon.

While he was at the gas station, another car pulled up, a man got out and shot Lomon in the head once, according to authorities. Two other people were in the car with Everett, but they were not injured, authorities said.

Everett was taken to Virtua Willingboro Hospital in a private car, authorities said. He was then airlifted to Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, where he was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m., authorities said.

Police don’t believe this was a random confrontation, but didn’t provide any possible motives for the shooting. No arrests have been made as of Monday morning.

Everett was one of 14 siblings, and he loved playing football and basketball, his mother Danielle Everett wrote in an online fundraiser.

“Nuk was a goofy, loving, caring and supportive kid,” Everett wrote of her son. “Nuk’s smile would light up the darkest room, and his presence was felt by all. There is nothing in this world that can repair the bond that has been broken, nor ease the pain that this tragedy has caused me and my children.”

As of Monday morning, the GoFundMe had raised $1,564. To make a donation, visit gofundme.com.

The investigation is being conducted by the Willingboro Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. The lead investigators are Willingboro Police Det. James Benedict, Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Dan Schules and Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Kevin Merrigan.