CRANFORD, NJ – A New Jersey community continues to grieve after two teenage girls were killed in what police say was an intentional hit-and-run attack while they were riding their bicycles on a residential street.
Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas died Monday evening after being struck by a vehicle on Burnside Avenue in Cranford. A 17-year-old boy from nearby Garwood has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the incident.
Residents have created a memorial at the site where the girls were killed, with community members of all ages gathering throughout the week to pay their respects and support the grieving families. The memorial has become a focal point for a town struggling to comprehend the tragedy.
“Everyone’s down, everyone’s — we’re taking this time to love and try to move on from what’s happened,” said Tristan Ridall, a Cranford resident who is close with Niotis’ brother. “It’s been kind of hard to get back into the swing of things, like work and school and all that.”
Prosecutors have not yet announced whether the teenage suspect will be charged as an adult. The suspect’s identity has not been publicly released due to his status as a minor.
In an unusual development, Christopher Battiloro, Police Chief in neighboring Westfield, issued a public statement acknowledging he is related to the suspect, though not an immediate family member. Battiloro sought to distance himself from the accused while expressing support for the victims’ families.
“I do unequivocally condemn the actions of the accused, and like you, I demand that he face the consequences of his alleged actions in a court of law,” Battiloro said in his statement. “As a law enforcement officer, I maintain full faith and confidence in our criminal justice system and that it will ensure he is held fully accountable. I, too, pray for these families. I, too, demand full accountability and justice.”
Neighbor Tim Borin described seeing people from across Cranford coming to the memorial throughout the week. “It was rough,” Borin said. “I saw people from all over the town that were coming in and showing support for the family, which was really nice, but it’s just — it’s just horrible what happened.”
The tight-knit community has rallied around the victims’ families in their time of grief. Kim Kraemer, a Cranford resident and mother, spoke about the town’s collective response to the tragedy.
“When something happens to a family, of course none of us want to see that, but it happens to all of us,” Kraemer said. “I think that’s just the community spirit of our town.”
The incident has shaken Cranford, a suburban township of approximately 25,000 residents located about 15 miles west of New York City. The community is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and quiet residential streets.
Investigators have not released details about a possible motive for the attack or the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims. The case remains under investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
