Petition asks for teen charged in Newark detective's murder to be tried as an adult
The Brief
A 14-year-old has been charged with the murder of Newark Police Detective Joseph Azcona but cannot be tried as an adult under current New Jersey law.
Azcona's family launched a petition with nearly 16,000 signatures, urging lawmakers to lower the age requirement for adult prosecution in violent crimes.
Legal experts say changing the law retroactively is unlikely, but police unions are backing the family's push for legislative reform.
NEW JERSEY - A 14-year-old is facing murder charges in the shooting death of Newark Police Detective Joseph Azcona. Because of his age, he cannot be tried as an adult under New Jersey law. Now, the detective's family and supporters are petitioning lawmakers to change that.
What we know
The 14-year-old suspect has been charged with murdering Detective Azcona, who was killed in the line of duty less than three weeks ago. Azcona and another officer were shot while responding to reports of a suspect with an illegal gun.
RELATED: Boy, 14, charged after 2 cops shot, 1 killed, in Newark, NJ
Despite the gravity of the crime, New Jersey law currently prevents anyone under 15 from being prosecuted as an adult. That means the accused teen is being tried in the juvenile justice system.
What they're saying
Now, Detective Azcona's family is calling for a change in the law. His mother recently started a petition on Change.org that has already garnered nearly 16,000 signatures. The petition urges lawmakers to revise the age threshold for adult prosecution in violent crimes.
"We firmly believe that the gravity of the crime committed should be the determining factor of the proceeding, not the age of the offender." The family of Newark Police Detective Joseph Azcona
However, according to criminal defense attorney Herb Ellis, such a change would face significant legal hurdles.
"The petition and the public at large are creating some type of a position that they want this young man to be treated as an adult, but I think the only way of changing that… would be to have the legislature change the law in the future," Ellis said. "Even with the petition that was signed, I think it's going to be an uphill battle to have him waived up as an adult."
The other side
The New Jersey State Police Union is also backing the Azcona family's efforts. Union president Michael Fox sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to eliminate age restrictions and give prosecutors more discretion in charging juveniles as adults.
What's next
Unless the legislature amends the law, the suspect will remain in the juvenile system. While public pressure is mounting, any change would likely not be retroactive and would only apply to future cases.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Yahoo
A Second Member of the Manson Family Was Recommended for Parole
A Second Member of the Manson Family Was Recommended for Parole - Again originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, who was among the people convicted of a murderous rampage that left seven Angelenos dead in the summer of 1969, could be released on parole upon the recommendation the California parole 77, the state's longest-serving female inmate, could become the the second member of the notoriously violent killer cult that went on a bloody crime spree that terrorized Los Angeles to be released, something that is being vehemently opposed by her victims' family members. She was convicted in the brutal slaying of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, a grocery store owner and his wife whose grisly deaths bookended the infamous Manson Family rampage that took that also took the life of actress Sharon Tate (pregnant at the time with Roman Polanski's baby) as well as celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring; coffee heiress Abigail Folger; Folger's boyfriend, Wojciech Frykowski; and Steven Parent, a friend of the estate's sister Debra described Kreneinkel's actions in the slayings, how she personally carved the word "WAR" into Leno LaBianca's belly with a carving knife and decorated the walls of his family's home with political messages like "Death to Pigs" written in the blood of her victims in a petition. "She has admitted that was not a direct order from Charles Manson or anyone else- it was her own idea," Tate wrote in the petition that urges California residents to demand that Governor Gavin Newsom keep Krenwinkel, now known as prisoner CDC# W-0831, behind bars. "For years this woman laughed about the murders in court and showed absolutely no remorse at all. She admits she was not on drugs the nights of the murders and committed them to ignite a race war." Those murders came just one night after Manson Family members Krenwinkel, then 21, along with Charles 'Tex' Watson, Susan Atkins, and Linda Kasabian killed Tate and the others in a house on Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon. Krenwinkel testified that she chased Folger down and stabbed her so many times her hand throbbed. The governor noted in his parole reversal that "Krenwinkel or one or more of her crime partners tied ropes around the necks of Mr. Sebring and Ms. Tate and her two crime partners stabbed them repeatedly, killing them. Ms. Tate was eight months pregnant when she was killed. The group wrote 'pig' in blood on the front door before fleeing," Newsom wrote. Manson, the governor noted, told Krenwinkel to do something 'witchy,' so she used blood to write 'Death to Pigs,' 'Rise,' and 'Healter [sic] Skelter' on the walls. The bodies and the grisly scene were found by the victims' son. Krenwinkel was granted parole on May 26, 2022, but the decision was reversed by Newsom on October 14, 2022, citing her horrific crimes and the continued threat she would pose to society if released. In all, the Parole Board has conducted 16 hearings for Krenwinkel since she became eligible for parole in 1977 after her death penalty sentence was deemed unconstitutional. But the elderly murderer might have a better chance at release now that her former Manson family sister is out on the streets. Her attorney, Keith Wattley told Los Angeles in a statement that his client "is living proof of both redemption and rehabilitation." Wattley said that she has spent 56 years in prison without "a single disciplinary infraction," and insists nine psychological evaluations suggest she is not longer a danger. to society." In July 2023, to the surprise of virtually everyone, her fellow Manson family follower Leslie Van Houten, one of the most notorious killers in the history of Southern California, a woman who for the past five decades has been known as prisoner number W-13378 was released. Van Houten was not at the Tate murders, but joined the gang for a second round of mayhem, this time in Los Feliz, where cult leader Charles Manson randomly chose the LaBiancas as their next victims. According to court records, Watson attacked Leno LaBianca with a bayonet, the two women went after his wife, Rosemary. Van Houten pulled a pillowcase over her head and wrapped a lamp cord around her neck while Krenwinkel plunged a knife so deep into her collarbone that it bent the died in prison in 2009. Manson died in prison in 2017 at the age of 83. Watson, 79, remains in a prison in Los Angeles County. Kasbian, who became the prosecution's lead witness and testified against Manson, died in 2023. It remains unclear where Van Houten is living now. The most recent recommendation by the Parole Board is not a done deal for Krenwinkel. The board's legal division has up to 120 days to finalize the decision, and then Newsom has 30 days to review and potentially reverse it. His office has not commented on the recommendation. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tory Lanez Receives Support From Congresswoman Calling For Him To Be Released From Prison
Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has made headlines after publicly calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to issue a pardon for Canadian rapper Tory Lanez. The artist is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in connection with the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted in December 2022 of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. The high-profile case culminated in his sentencing in August 2023, sparking ongoing debate over the trial's fairness. Taking to social media, Luna voiced her concerns about the conviction and its broader implications. 'I am calling on Gov. Newsom @CAgovernor to review Tory Lanez's case and issue a pardon,' Luna wrote. 'His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind — not driven by headlines.' She concluded her post with a clear call to action: 'Free Tory Lanez.' Supporters of Lanez have echoed similar sentiments, with some pointing to alternative narratives surrounding the events of the night in question. Notably, Bradley James, a bodyguard, has claimed that Kelsey Harris — Megan Thee Stallion's former friend and assistant — admitted to possessing and firing the gun multiple times. These claims have fueled petitions and social media campaigns pushing for Lanez's release. The movement gained further traction when fellow Canadian and former collaborator Drake's Instagram Story featured the message 'Come home soon,' along with a link to a petition titled, 'Pardon Tory Lanez: Urge Governor Newsom to Correct a Deep Injustice.' While Governor Newsom has not responded publicly to Luna's appeal, her intervention marks a rare case of a sitting member of Congress weighing in on a celebrity legal battle, and it adds a new political dimension to a case that has already captivated public attention. See Anna Paulina Luna's X post below. More from Megan Thee Stallion Blasts "Demon" Tory Lanez Over New Shooting Claims Adin Ross Claims He Lost Millions In Brand Deals After Dissing Megan Thee Stallion, Doechii Megan Thee Stallion Addresses Rumored Met Gala Ban
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Megan Thee Stallion Hit Back At Claims That Tory Lanez Didn't Actually Shoot Her
Back in 2023, Tory Lanez was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion. He's currently serving 10 years in prison for the conviction. Despite the conviction, Tory — and his online supporters — have continued to claim that he wasn't involved in the shooting, resulting in constant harassment campaigns against Megan. Most recently, Tory's team came forward with highly dubious claims that Megan's friend Kelsey Harris actually pulled the trigger and not Tory himself. (Tory, who was recently stabbed 14 times in prison, previously claimed that Megan wasn't even shot at all.) Related: Donald Trump's Apparent Baldness Is Going Viral In A New Photo Despite there being no established veracity to the new claims, Tory has received a wave of public support from celebrities — including Chris Brown and Drake — who have shared a petition to have Tory Lanez pardoned and released from prison. The entire situation is, obviously, disgusting — and last night, Megan shared a message on TikTok speaking out against the claims from Tory's team and sending a direct message to those who keep questioning the outcome of the case. Related: "Rude, Crass, Entitled Piece Of Garbage": People Are Revealing Their Best And Worst Celebrity Encounters, And These Are Genuinely Soooo Fascinating 'At what point are yall gonna stop making me have to re live being shot BY TORY !?" she wrote. "At what point are Tory and yall FANS gonna stop lying ? Like how much is the check to keep harassing me? Why is this happening EVERY DAY?' 'One min him/ yall said I was never shot now yall letting him play in yall face AGAIN and say I was shot but it wasn't him oh okay… ?! I'm sick of this shit LEAVE ME TF ALONE!!!! HE AINT DARE GET ON THAT STAND AND DENY HE SHOT ME AND THAT WAS HIS CHOICE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE DID THAT SH-T! IDGAF ABT A BLOG OR A BOT!!! WHY IN TF WOULD ME … MEGAN THEE STALLION HAVE TO LIE ON THIS MF ABT SHOOTING ME!' 'How yall mad at the person that got shot???? FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it, it was PROVEN IN COURT fuck the hate campaign on the internet TORY YOU SHOT ME !! Ain't no new fucking evidence yall been saying the same shit for years.' 'TORY PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE you a fucking demon," she concluded. "I'm off this silly ass internet shit, BYE.' More than a fair response, I should say! Also in Celebrity: 19 Celebrities Who Are Way Smarter Than You Thought They Were — Like, One Is A Neuroscientist Also in Celebrity: Cassie Finally Broke Her Silence After Kanye West Decided To Publicly Support Diddy, And Her Response Is Exactly What Everyone Has Been Saying Also in Celebrity: 31 Celebrity Slip-Ups On Social Media That Revealed Wayyyy More Than They Ever Intended
