FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (Somerset County) — A Somerset County grand jury has indicted a 19-year-old Plainfield man on charges that he fatally shot a Franklin High School student last year and wounded another teen during a weekend birthday party in Franklin Township. Authorities said Alex Ortega, 18, was a DJ at the party, on Irvington Avenue, where 18-year-old Jalil Ross...
Alex Ortega, indicted on charges that he fatally shot a Franklin High School student and wounded another teen during a party last year, makes his first appearance in September 2010.FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (Somerset County) — A Somerset County grand jury has indicted a 19-year-old Plainfield man on charges that he fatally shot a Franklin High School student last year and wounded another teen during a weekend birthday party in Franklin Township.
Authorities said Alex Ortega, 18, was a DJ at the party, on Irvington Avenue, where 18-year-old Jalil Ross was shot in the torso and 18-year-old Ashani Wilks was fatally shot in the head.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, the party was attended mainly by people from Plainfield and the Somerset section of Franklin Township. At some point, he said, a fight broke out between the two groups.
Ross and Wilks are from Somerset.
Ortega admitted to firing his .25 caliber handgun several times, authorities said, and knew that the gunshots caused injuries. The shooting occurred around 10 p.m.
Family and friends of Wilks have said the slain teen was trying to break up the fight when he was shot.
Ross remained under hospital care for 19 days, Soriano said, while Wilks died the next morning.
Ortega has been charged with murder, attempted murder and a couple weapons violations. If convicted of murder, he faces a life sentence behind bars with a 30-year period of parole ineligibility.
Ortega remained in the Somerset County jail today, in lieu of $400,000 cash-only bail.
Anyone with information is asked to call Franklin Township police at (732) 873-5533, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Squad at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).
Previous coverage:
• DJ is charged in fatal shooting at Somerset County party
• Plainfield man accused of Somerset County fatal shooting admits he fired his weapon
• Facebook dispute sparked fatal shooting at N.J. birthday party, family says
• Plainfield man is arrested in fatal Franklin birthday party shooting