A 17‑year‑old was charged on Monday in connection with a drive‑by pellet‑gun shooting in Teaneck, New Jersey, where the victim was shot after ignoring a question posed by the perpetrator regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, authorities said.
Teaneck police responded Sunday evening to a report that a man had been struck with gel pellets fired from a moving vehicle near West Englewood Avenue. The victim, a 19‑year‑old resident of Teaneck, told officers he was walking in the area around 6:10 p.m. when a black sedan pulled up alongside him.
According to the police account, someone in the car asked the man whether he supported Israel or Palestine. After he kept walking without answering, one of the occupants allegedly fired a gel pellet gun at him, striking him multiple times in the upper body. The vehicle left the scene, but returned later that night, and a passenger again fired pellets from the car, the victim said, noting that he was not injured.
Investigators found small orange gel beads at the scene consistent with ammunition used in “Orbeez‑style” gel pellet guns. The victim told police he believed he was targeted because of his visible religious clothing and background.
Using footage captured by the victim and automated license‑plate reader cameras, detectives identified the vehicle and located it at the owner’s residence. Police stopped the car and arrested the 17‑year‑old driver. Officers seized a gel pellet gun, a water gun, and a container of gel pellets from the vehicle.
Charges filed, investigation ongoing
The suspect has been charged in a juvenile delinquency complaint with multiple offenses, including bias intimidation, simple assault, conspiracy, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was remanded to the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center, police said.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify the other individuals involved. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Teaneck Police Department or Bergen County Crime Stoppers.