Two 17-year-old girls in New Jersey were killed on Monday when they were struck by a driver who was allegedly stalking them.
According to reports, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas were on electronic bicycles in Cranford when they were hit by a Jeep SUV driven by a 17-year-old male. The driver continued for a short distance with one of the bikes trapped beneath his vehicle until it broke down, as reported by WCBS.
Though the 17-year-old boy has not been identified, WNYW reported that he has been charged with Niotis and Salas’ first-degree murders.
Local residents informed WCBS that the driver had been stalking one of the girls for several months, often loitering outside her home without intervention. A family friend of one of the victims claimed the teen boy could be related to a high-ranking police official, though this has not been officially confirmed.
It was reported that a restraining order had been issued against the suspect over the alleged stalking, although the reports did not clarify which of the girls was targeted.
“She made complaints and nothing was done,” an acquaintance told WCBS.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has not said whether the 17-year-old boy will be charged as an adult.
[Feature Photo: GoFundMe]
