Township Man Indicted For Columbus Day Murder Of New Brunswick Youth

Slain teen was found in First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens’ parking lot.

Dequan Rogers, 20, of Somerset was indicted for the 2014 murder of a New Brunswick youth.
Photo: Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

A 20-year-old township man has been indicted for the October, 2014 murder of a New Brunswick youth.

Dequan S. Rogers of Alcorne Street was indicted Feb. 26 for the Oct. 13, 2014 murder of Joell Burton, 17, of New Brunswick, according to a press release from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Rogers is charged with 1st Degree murder, 2nd Degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, 2nd Degree unlawful possession of a handgun and 4th Degree underage possession of a handgun, according to the release.

Rogers has been held in the Somerset County Jail, Somerville, in lieu of $500,000 bail since his Oct. 14, 2014 arrest.

Township police responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 9:12 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2014, alerting them that a shooting victim was in the parking lot of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens on Route 27.

Officers found Burton, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Burton was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead.

A short time later, police received another 9-1-1 call about a stabbing victim near Victor Street. Officers found Rogers there, suffering from a stab wound to his upper torso.

An investigation by township police and detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office found that Burton and Rogers were involved in a fight, during which Rogers pulled out a gun and allegedly shot Burton.

Your Thoughts

comments