MAY 15, 2023

NEWS RELEASE

AUTHORITIES CHARGE THREE JUVENILES IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP HOMICIDE

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather announced the arrests of three juveniles involved in the homicide death of Kofi Addo, age 57, which occurred in Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Jersey.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at approximately 9:56 p.m., Franklin Township Police responded to 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting in the area of Rose Street and Sydney Place, Somerset, New Jersey. Responding Officers encountered an adult male taxi driver suffering from a gunshot wound. The taxi had come to rest after crashing into a parked vehicle which was in a driveway of a residence on Sydney Place. Franklin Township Police Officers along with Emergency Medical Personnel from an area Trauma Center responded to the scene and performed life saving measures on the victim, who was subsequently identified as Kofi Addo, age 57, North Brunswick, New Jersey. Mr. Addo was transported to an area Trauma Center where he was pronounced deceased.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department along with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, and Warren Township Police K-9 Unit responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Addo, while operating a local taxi, responded to the area of Rose Street to pick up a fare. Upon arrival Mr. Addo was confronted by the suspect(s) while inside the taxi and was subsequently shot.

Prosecutor McDonald stated that investigators assigned to the investigation identified three (3) male juveniles, ages 14, 13, and 13 as being involved in the robbery and homicide shooting of Mr. Addo. The investigation yielded that the juveniles intended to rob Mr. Addo when one of the juveniles fired a shot killing Mr. Addo while he was operating the taxi. Following the shooting the juveniles fled from the area on foot.

On Friday, May 12, 2023, all three male juveniles were located by authorities assigned to the investigation. Two juveniles were in Franklin Township and the third juvenile was in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The juveniles were transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office where they were subsequently charged.

Juvenile #1 (age 14) Somerset, NJ and Juvenile #2 (age 13) New Brunswick, NJ both charged with:

• Murder, 1st degree
• Felony Murder, 1st degree
• Conspiracy to Commit Murder, 1st degree
• Robbery, 1st degree
• Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, 2nd degree
• Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, 2nd degree
• Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, 2nd degree
• Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, 4th degree

Juvenile #3 (age 13) Somerset, NJ charged with:

• Robbery, 1st degree
• Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, 2nd degree

Prosecutor McDonald stated that three juveniles were transported on Friday evening to the Middlesex County Youth detention center awaiting a Family Court Appearance. On Sunday, May 14, 2023, the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination and determined the cause of death as gunshot wound to the head and manner of death as homicide.

Prosecutor McDonald commends all the law enforcement agencies that assisted the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Franklin Township Police Department in this investigation to include the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Middlesex County SWAT team, the New Brunswick Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Franklin Resident Office.

Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Fodor, and Director Maeweather request anyone with information relating to this homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

 NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.