Newark bodega killing: Two charged with murder

Police have arrested two teenagers and charged them with killing Newark bodega owner Miguel Torres, who was shot through a plexiglass shield as he surrendered money to a robber last week, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and city Police Director Samuel DeMaio.

Newark bodega killed

The shooter, who was just 16 years old, will also be charged in connection with a separate Newark murder and several other crimes, police officials said. A press conference will be held at the Newark Police Department’s Communications Center at 3 p.m. to announce the arrests.

Torres was gunned down on Jan. 17 when a masked man walked into the JNC Mini-Mart and demanded cash, authorities said last week. The 37-year-old store owner, who only took over the business six months ago, agreed to hand over the cash but was shot after the gunman became impatient, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said last week.

During a Jan. 19 press conference, Murray said the shooter and Torres can be seen having a “back-and-forth” dialogue before the fatal round is fired. Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said last week that the gunman reached through a window in the plexiglass shield and shot Torres as he was handing over the money.

Surveillance

Authorities released surveillance images from the Newark bodega last week that showed the gunman wearing a mask, and a black and white striped Adidas sweatshirt. Outside the store, a lookout can be seen sporting dreadlocks and a North Face jacket. Murray said today that the lookout was identified as an 18-year-old today, but he is only charged in Torres’ murder and was not involved in the earlier slaying.

Police have also captured a 19-year-old suspect who may have been involved in some of Torres’ earlier crimes, according to Murray.

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