A 17-year-old was charged with murder for the shooting death of a New Jersey father who was killed while trying to protect his children during an attempted carjacking.
The teen, who was not named publicly, was arrested on charges of first-degree felony murder, first-degree carjacking, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and weapons offenses, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said.
On the morning of July 12, Trenton police found Yoni Emanuel Cruz-Rodriguez, 27, dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside his overturned white Dodge Durango.
Cruz-Rodriguez’s two young children — a 2-month-old girl and 3-year-iold boy — were strapped into their car seats and unharmed.
A few moments earlier, the father was standing at the back of the open Durango after leaving his church, Iglesia Profetica Camino A La Salvacion, when witnesses told police the teen jumped into the car and tried to drive away.
Cruz-Rodriguez attempted to climb into the rear of the vehicle to reach his children and was hit with multiple gun shots, according to authorities.
The would-be carjacker crashed the vehicle into two other cars, flipped the Durango upside down and ran away.
Cruz-Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was not clear if the teenage suspect has entered a plea or retained legal counsel.
A GoFundMe started by Cruz-Rodriguez’s brother said his family is trying to raise enough money to return his body to his hometown of La Iguala Lempira, Honduras.
A memorial service was held at the Trenton church July 27.
As of Saturday morning, the fundraiser had collected nearly $3,500 of its $12,000 goal.
