SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Three juveniles have been sentenced in connection with the fatal shooting of Kofi Addo, a 57-year-old taxi driver who was killed during an attempted robbery in Franklin Township. The Honorable Christopher A. Edwards, J.S.C., handed down sentences of 11, 8, and 4 years to the minors, whose ages range from 13 to 14, for their involvement in the homicide.
On May 11, 2023, Franklin Township Police responded to a 9-1-1 call around 9:56 p.m. reporting a shooting near Rose Street and Sydney Place in Somerset. Officers arrived to find Addo suffering from a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation, led by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, quickly identified three male juveniles as suspects.
Authorities determined that the suspects, ages 14, 13, and 13, had intended to rob Addo while he was driving his taxi. During the robbery, one of the juveniles fired a shot, fatally wounding the driver before the group fled on foot. Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, alongside the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and the Crime Scene Investigation Unit, processed the scene and collected evidence that led to the arrests.
The sentences reflect each juvenile’s level of involvement in the crime. The 14-year-old from Somerset was sentenced to 11 years for charges including 1st-degree murder, 1st-degree robbery, 2nd-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and 2nd-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. A 13-year-old from New Brunswick received an 8-year sentence for felony murder and robbery, both in the 1st degree. The third juvenile, also 13 and from Somerset, was sentenced to 4 years for 1st-degree robbery.
Due to their ages—none of the juveniles were older than 14—they could not be tried as adults under New Jersey law, which requires offenders to be at least 15 to be eligible for adult prosecution. Additionally, there are no mandatory minimum incarceration terms for juvenile offenders, leaving open the possibility of early release based on behavior and rehabilitation programs.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Rory Eaton and has drawn attention to the challenges in balancing justice and rehabilitation in cases involving young offenders involved in violent crimes.
Note: Thank you for visiting our website! We strive to keep you informed with the latest updates based on expected timelines, although please note that we are not affiliated with any official bodies. Our team is committed to ensuring accuracy and transparency in our reporting, verifying all information before publication. We aim to bring you reliable news, and if you have any questions or concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
