FRANKLIN, NJ—Authorities have not released any information on the shooting of a 17-year-old man near the border between Franklin Township and New Brunswick.
News 12 New Jersey reported that the family of Joell Burton says the 17-year-old teenager was the victim of the incident, which occurred in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, located on Somerset Street.
The incident occurred at approximately 9 pm on Monday, October 13. Â Burton was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he passed away.
The teen’s family was taken by surprise that someone would want to hurt their son, according to the report.
“I didn’t think he had any enemies,” Burton’s mother told News 12.  “We don’t know exactly what the issue is.”Â
An outpouring of grief, sympathy, and anger was visible on social media this morning.
“Guns r not the answer. Ppl don’t fight fair anymore,” posted one woman on Facebook.
“Another month, another year, another smile, another tear, another winter and another summer too. But there will never be another u Jozy.”
Burton went by the nickname “Jozy” and once shared an image on Facebook that resembled an album cover, with the message “Ville Made,” a reference to his New Brunswick neighborhood.
Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.
