Teen Accused in Hit-and-Run of Two Girls Linked to Swatting Incidents

A 17-year-old boy has been implicated in the deaths of two teenage girls in a hit-and-run incident, with accusations of carrying out two “swatting” pranks at their homes just weeks prior. The tragic events involve Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, who were struck and killed around 5:26 p.m. on September 29 while riding electric bicycles. They were declared dead at the hospital. The identity of the suspect has not been released due to his status as a minor.

Brent Bramnick, representing Niotis’ family, mentioned that the suspect reportedly showed up at Niotis’ home in Cranford, New Jersey, knocking on her door twice in early September. Bramnick pointed out that after the first incident, the police were called, but there seems to have been no subsequent investigation.

In the second incident, police arrived to find the suspect parked outside the Niotis home. Bramnick recounted that Niotis’ mother informed the officers about the young man’s presence. Following an interview with him, the police said he would be released back to his father.

Bramnick expressed the family’s concerns over what steps were taken after these incidents, emphasizing the need for answers regarding the police response. “What investigation, if any, was conducted? That’s critical. We need clarity on this,” he said, indicating their intention to conduct their own inquiries.

The suspect, hailing from Garwood, New Jersey, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and was reportedly driving a 2021 black Jeep Compass at the time of the fatal crash.

Lauren Farinas, a spokesperson from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody for questioning right after the tragedy but was released pending further investigation. He was later arrested on October 1 after formal charges were filed.

The suspect is in custody as the case develops, while Niotis’ mother, Faura, alleged that the boy had “planned” the attack and felt invulnerable due to family connections in law enforcement. She criticized local police for failing to act on reports of stalking concerning Maria, stating, “They should have done a lot. They did nothing.” Faura expressed her desire for justice for both girls, saying, “That’s all I want.”

TotalNews has reached out to the Cranford Police Department for their take on the situation.