New Jersey

Teen Arrested in Deerfield Beach For Alleged Killing of Child in New Jersey

What to Know

  • Karon Council was captured in Deerfield Beach after being tracked down by U.S. Marshals, with the 18-year-old being charged with murder.
  • Officials say the victim, Yovanni Banos-Merino, and his mother Lilia were shot after Council and a 16-year-old teen opened fire Feb. 21st.
  • The second teen involved was arrested the next day at his school, but officials don’t believe that he was the one who pulled the trigger.

Police in Broward County arrested a teen wanted for allegedly killing a 10-year-old and wounding the victim’s mother in New Jersey.

Karon Council was captured in Deerfield Beach after being tracked down by U.S. Marshals, with the 18-year-old being charged with murder, attempted murder and a variety of other charges stemming from the February 21st shooting.

Officials say the victim, Yovanni Banos-Merino, and his 38-year-old mother Lilia were shot after Council and a 16-year-old teen opened fire on their Asbury Park home last week. Lilia Merino survived her injuries and was released from the hospital.

The second teen involved was arrested the next day at his school, but officials don’t believe that he was the one who pulled the trigger.

A motive has not been released as the investigation continues, but a Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman told NJ.com that the intended target was like a friend of the family who was inside at the time. No one else was hurt in the shooting.

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