Alleged Long Branch Teen Shooter To Make First Court Appearance

FREEHOLD, NJ - The sixteen-year-old accused of gunning down his parents, sister and a family friend on New Year's Eve will make his first appearance in Superior Court this morning, a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said.

The teenager will not be in the actual courtroom, but will be on video, said spokesman Christopher Swendeman said.

There will be no media access to the court proceedings, but the event will be followed by a press conference, which will be streamed live on the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Facebook page, he said.

The boy, described by other news outlets as autistic, has been charged with four counts of murder and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.

Long Branch police and the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office responded to the home after receiving a 911 call reporting shots fired. The call came from someone inside the home, Gramiccioni said during a press conference on New Year's Day.

Police arrived on the scene a minute later, after receiving the call, Gramiccioni said.

They found the bodies of Steven Kologi, 44; mother Linda Kologi, 42; sister Brittany Kologi, 18; and family acquaintance, Mary Schultz, 70, of Oakhurst Parkway in Ocean Township.

The boy's grandfather and an older brother managed to escape.

Patch will update with more information after the press conference.

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