A 17-year-old girl was shot and killed last Saturday morning, Jan. 10, 2026, inside her own New Jersey home.
Prosecutors say the suspected gunman was a teenage boy she had been dating, marking another devastating episode of youth gun violence in the state.
Police and emergency responders were called to a townhome on Grove Avenue in Edison, Middlesex County, at about 1:19 a.m. after a 911 caller reported shots fired. Officers arriving at the scene found the victim, identified by family and friends as Justice Deas, dead inside the residence.
According to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the alleged shooter — a 17-year-old male from nearby Plainfield who was at the home at the time — was immediately taken into custody. Authorities are charging him with acts of juvenile delinquency for weapons and aggravated manslaughter, reflecting charges that would be pursued as weapons and manslaughter counts had he been an adult.
Investigators say the two teens were in a romantic relationship, and that no one else was believed to be in the home when the shooting occurred. Prosecutors have not yet publicly released the suspect’s name pending further legal proceedings and possible determinations about whether he will be tried as an adult.
Community Reaction and Grief
The unexpected death of Deas has left friends, family and neighbors reeling. A makeshift memorial of candles, balloons and messages of remembrance has been erected outside the townhome where she died, with classmates and loved ones gathering to mourn her loss.
Leila Martinez, a friend who knew Deas since middle school, described her as “the life of the party” and someone who stood by others through difficult times. “Whenever I needed her, she was there for me,” Martinez told local media, fighting back tears. “When I had no one, I always had her.”
Broader Context of Youth Violence
The tragic shooting highlights a persistent issue of gun violence involving young people in New Jersey and across the United States.
While every incident has unique circumstances, law enforcement and community leaders continue to stress the importance of early intervention, safe firearm storage and conflict resolution among youth to prevent similar deaths.
Officials are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact Edison police or the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office to aid the ongoing investigation.
