New Brunswick, NJ 16-year-old shot and killed inside home

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Jazariah Del Toro, a 16-year-old New Brunswick student, was shot and killed inside her family’s home Tuesday afternoon, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Teen Boy Charged in Connection with  Shooting Death of Jazariah Del Toro

Authorities said a 16-year-old boy from Mays Landing shot Del Toro shortly before 2:30 p.m. The teens knew each other and were romantically involved, officials said.

New Brunswick Shooting: Police Responded to Lawrence Street

At 2:28 p.m., New Brunswick Police officers responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired at a Lawrence Street residence. This was Del Toro’s home, where she lived with her family.

Officers found her with a gunshot wound. Emergency crews rushed her to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.

The teen boy remained at the scene. Police took him into custody without incident.

Juvenile Charges Filed

Prosecutor Linda Estremera said authorities charged the boy with acts of juvenile delinquency. The charges include:

• Aggravated manslaughter
• Unlawful possession of a handgun
• Possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose

Investigators have not determined how he obtained the firearm.

New Brunswick School District Confirms Jazariah Del Toro’s Death

The New Brunswick School District confirmed that Del Toro was enrolled in the district. Although the district did not publicly name her, New Brunswick High School Principal Cary Fields said the school community was grieving.

“New Brunswick High School shares its condolences with the community following the loss of a student and reminds families that counseling and support services are available,” Fields wrote.

Mother Launches GoFundMe for Funeral and Relocation

Del Toro’s mother created a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs and to help her family relocate. She described her daughter as loving, kind-hearted, and full of life.

“My Chulita was a loving, caring and kind-hearted child who was only 16 years old,” the mother wrote. “She was a great kid and did not deserve to have her life taken from her so soon.”

Investigators Seek Information

Authorities asked anyone with information or surveillance footage to contact:

• Detective Brandt Gregus, New Brunswick Police Department: 732‑745‑5217
• Detective Stephanie Redline, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office: 732‑745‑3316