Second Teen Charged In North Jersey Fatal Shooting, Officials Say

PATERSON, NJ — A 19-year-old has been arrested in Pennsylvania on a murder charge after a fatal shooting last October in Paterson, officials said.

A 16-year-old was also previously charged in the case.

The shooting on the afternoon of Oct. 3 fatally injured 23-year-old Jerrell Wright of Riverdale and injured two other people, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

The week after the shooting, officials charged an unnamed 16-year-old boy with juvenile delinquency crimes which would be the equivalent of murder, conspiracy, attempted murder, and weapons violations if tried as an adult, the prosecutor's office said.

Now, officials said 19-year-old Brayan Caraballo is in custody, after they identified him as one of the individuals involved in the shooting. Caraballo is awaiting extradition to New Jersey, said Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Officer-In-Charge Isa Abbassi.

The Paterson resident faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and two second-degree weapons charges.

Officials said they will file a motion for him to remain detained ahead of trial.

If convicted of murder, Caraballo faces a minimum 30 years' imprisonment and a maximum life sentence, officials said.

The shooting took place at about 3:45 p.m on Tuesday, Oct. 3 near the area of Broadway and Rosa Parks Boulevard, officials said. Three other fatal shootings had occurred in the city in a 36-hour time frame.

The remaining victims, a 19-year-old man from Elmwood Park and a 57-year-old man from Paterson, survived.

The shooting investigation is still active and ongoing, said Valdes and Abbassi in a news release.

Officials said the first-degree crimes of conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a weapon have a sentencing range between 10 and 20 years in prison. Caraballo was also charged with second-degree possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun, which each have a sentencing range of five years to 10 years in prison.