Police: Somerset Teen Shot Near Naaman Williams Park

A 19-year-old Somerset teen was shot in the leg March 16 after a group of three men opened fire on him and nine others near Naaman Williams Park on Matilda Avenue, police said.

Police are not releasing the identity of the victim, who was shot in the back left thigh at about 7:20 p.m.

Police sad the youth was walking with a group of people who had just finished playing basketball at the park when, as they passed the children’s playground, they were approached by three black men wearing dark clothing.

The men then brandished guns and started shooting into the crowd, police said.

The youths scattered in different directions, police said.

Responding officers found “numerous shell casings” in the area, and began canvassing the area for witnesses and victims, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Police said the assailants ran toward Route 27 after the shooting.

Polie said an unoccupied car parked on Mark Street was hit by one of the rounds fired during the incident.

Detectives are trying to determine a motive for the shooting and to find any witnesses, according to the press release.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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