A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Edison, New Jersey, throwing a tight-knit community into mourning. Seventeen-year-old Justice Deas was shot and killed in her residence on Saturday, January 10. This devastating event has taken on a disturbing layer of complexity, as prosecutors indicate that the alleged gunman was a teenage boy with whom Justice had been dating.
The event transpired during the early hours of the morning, with a 911 call placed at 1:19 a.m. reporting gunfire inside a townhome on Grove Avenue. First responders arrived to find Justice already deceased, marking the beginning of an investigation that would shake the community to its core.
A 17-year-old boy, whose identity has not been released to the public, was present at the scene and was promptly taken into custody. He is facing charges related to juvenile delinquency, which might have escalated to more serious weapons and manslaughter charges had he been an adult. Prosecutors have opted to delay releasing his name as they evaluate whether he will be tried as an adult. Compounding the investigation, sources have indicated that security cameras within the townhome may have captured the moments leading up to and during the shooting.
Witnesses reveal that Justice and the alleged gunman were in a romantic relationship, a detail that deepens the tragedy of the situation. Friends remember Justice as a vibrant spirit who brought joy and laughter into their lives. “Ever since then, we’ve just been locked in forever,” recalled Leila Martinez, Justice’s friend since middle school, her voice breaking with emotion. “I used to get picked on in school, and Justice was always there for me; whenever I had no one, I always had her.” Leila’s words highlight the bond they shared and the significant impact Justice had on those around her.
The loss of Justice Deas is not an isolated incident; it reflects a broader pattern of violence that has recently plagued the Edison area. On December 21, another tragedy struck when Imani Dia Smith, a 26-year-old actress who had starred in the Broadway adaptation of “The Lion King,” was killed in a stabbing incident. Her boyfriend, 35-year-old Jordan D. Jackson-Small, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, among other offenses. These events highlight a distressing wave of violence that seems to be affecting young lives in the community.
A memorial has since sprung up at the apartment complex where Justice lived, where friends and family have flocked to pay their respects. Candles and balloons have been placed in her memory, forming a poignant tribute to a life cut tragically short. The community is left grappling with the question of why these senseless acts of violence continue to occur and what can be done to prevent them in the future.