A New Jersey teen has murdered most of his family mere minutes before ringing in the New Year.
Emergency dispatch was called to report shots fired at a family home in Long Branch New Jersey on Sunday evening. When officers arrived they found most of the Kologi family dead, as well as a 71-year-old family friend.
Those killed were father Steven Kologi, 44, mother Linda Kologi, 42, sister Brittany Kologi, 18, and a 70-year-old family friend named Mary Schultz.
The family was apparently having a quiet gathering for New Year’s Eve when their 16-year-old son produced a semi-automatic rifle and began firing. No motive has yet been released by investigators, and the name of the boy has been withheld due to his age.
Investigators report the gun was a “Century Arms semi-automatic rifle”, but couldn’t be any more specific. Officers also couldn’t say how the 16-year-old was able to acquire the weapon.
The shooting began at 11:45 PM. Officers arrived at the scene to find the mother, father, sister, and 70-year-old dead of gunshot wounds inside the home. The family’s brother and grandfather were unharmed and apparently not targeted by the rampaging teenager.
Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said it was a “terribly tragic incident.”
“We are investigating this and are confident that it’s a domestic incident that’s completely isolated,” he said at a news conference Monday morning.
Officers were able to arrest the boy and retrieve the murder weapon without incident. The 16-year-old now faces four counts of murder and one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm.
Speaking to ABC News, family friend Ronnie Pacheco was in tears at the news. “It hurts, It really hurts…I can’t even think right now… I’m sorry,” Pacheco said. “I’m like still in shock. I can’t even feel how cold it is out here. I’m just in complete shock.”
The 16-year-old’s first court appearance will be on Tuesday.
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