TEANECK, New Jersey (WABC) — A teenager is accused of shooting a 19-year-old Jewish man with a gel pellet gun in New Jersey, in what’s being called a bias crime.
Finding the suspects was made easier for Teaneck Police by license plate readers. They say they captured not only the plates, but a person hanging out the passenger side window holding what looked like a toy gel gun.
On a corner of Jefferson Street and Ogden Avenue, Eyewitness News found the tiny orange gel pellet that was used in the toy gun that police say was used to shoot at the 19-year-old victim.
He told police that the black sedan drove towards him, and someone inside asked if he supported Israel or Palestine. When he ignored the question, one of the three people inside shot him with a pellet. The car sped off.
Moments later, the car was back, and he was shot with several more pellets that did not injure him.
Hours later, after reviewing license plate reader video and video from the victim, police located the car and arrested the teenager.
The Jewish Federation of New Jersey’s security director has distributed pamphlets about safety because of recent attacks on those targeted over religious bias.
“We’re just advising people to stay aware, report suspicious vehicles,” said Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey Jewish Community Security Director Tim Torell. “I also have to, at this point, commend the Teaneck Police for doing such a quick job. It’s just a great example of ‘you see something, you say something.'”
The 17-year-old suspect is in the Bergen County Detention Center facing about a half dozen charges including simple assault, bias intimidation and conspiracy.
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