Authorities arrested a juvenile suspect in connection to the death of two Newark teenagers killed on Christmas, the New York Daily News reported.
The suspect is expected to be charged with the murders of 13-year-old Zainee Hailey, who was fatally shot while taking out the trash with her 7-year-old brother, and 15-year-old Kasson Mormon was shot and killed while sitting on a porch.
In addition, another 14-year-old was injured in the shooting.
A spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office told the NYDN that more information regarding the arrest will be discussed at a press conference at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
News of progress in the case came on the same day as family and friends gathered for Hailey's funeral in nearby Elizabeth.
Police have not offered possible motives for the murders, though neighbors claim the gunman opened fire at the teens after suspecting they were involved in the theft of a red Jeep Cherokee. They also claimed the victims were not involved in the car theft.
Hailey, a middle school student and choir singer, had just come home from a holiday dinner at her grandfather's when she was shot. Her grandfather, Michael Peterson, made a plea to the gunman over the weekend.
"Let's put the guns down, turn yourself in," Peterson said.
On Monday, Mormon's parents spoke about their son's death and said something needs to be done about the increasing violence in the city.
"It hurts me to see these kids crying about losing a friend," said the teen's father, Richard Morman."This has got to stop."
