Mother awakens to scene of horror in Monroe Township home. How did South Jersey teen die?
MONROE – A mother awakened by a loud bang went downstairs to find her 17-year-old son had been shot in the head, authorities say.
The Monroe Township teenager, Cayden Jones, was shot in a Chestnut Street home around 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16, said the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.
An 18-year-old Williamstown man, Nasir D. Robinson-Sanders, has been charged with manslaughter and a weapons offense, the prosecutor's office said.
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Police arrested Robinson-Sanders outside the victim's home, where he dropped a gun at an officer's order, according to a probable cause statment.
Robinson-Sanders told police he had accidentally shot the 17-year-old, whom he described as a friend, according to the statement.
Teenager dies in Williamstown shooting
Jones was taken to a South Jersey hospital, then was flown to a Philadelphia hospital where he was declared dead, the prosecutor's office said.
According to the probable cause statement, Jones' mother, Jen Nicholas, found the teen lying face-down and "bleeding profusely." She tried to treat her son's wound while calling 911.
She told police that Robinson-Sanders, who had allegedly acknowledged shooting her son, "was upset and ran from the residence," the probable cause statement says.
Police recovered a live round and a spent casing of .40 caliber ammunition. The weapon dropped by Robinson-Sanders was a .40 caliber handgun, according to the statement.
According to the statement, Robinson-Sanders told police he had taken the gun from his father's vehicle and that he and the victim "were playing around" with it during the afternoon.
The teens were planning to meet another friend and Robinson-Sanders said he wanted to ensure the gun was not loaded.
After taking steps that he thought would empty the gun, Robinson-Sanders pulled the trigger to make sure it was not loaded. the statement said.
"When he did, the handgun fired," it said.
Jones, who was standing across the room, then fell face-first to the floor.
A GoFundMe account to cover funeral costs and family expenses had raised more than $6,300 by Tuesday afternoon.
Robinson-Sanders was being held in Salem County Jail.
The charges against him are only allegations. He has not been convicted in the case.
Witnesses urged to call police
An investigation remains ongoing, the prosecutor's office said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Prosecutor’s Detective Eric Bailey at 856-384-5685 or Monroe Police Detective Kristyn Morris at 856-728-9800 ext. 577.
Information can also be emailed to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Monroe NJ shooting under investigation, with teen being held
