GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Warren County) — A 19-year-old man from Stewartsville has been arrested following a nearly month-long investigation into a June shooting in Greenwich Township that involved two juveniles and the recovery of an assault rifle, armor-piercing ammunition, and other illegal firearms, authorities said.
On Thursday, July 3, Jared D. Benka-Coker was taken into custody after investigators executed a search warrant at his home on Hamilton Drive in Greenwich Township. During the search, law enforcement officials recovered a loaded, untraceable 9mm ghost gun and a 31-round high-capacity magazine, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Benka-Coker faces nine charges related to the June 7 shooting and the firearms discovered during the search. He was charged with employing a juvenile to commit a crime, conspiracy to unlawfully possess and discharge an assault rifle in a residential area, possession of armor-piercing ammunition and a large-capacity magazine, endangering the welfare of children, and possession of a ghost gun. Several charges are second-degree crimes carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in state prison.
Authorities said this is Benka-Coker’s third gun-related offense since November 2024. He is currently lodged at the Warren County Correctional Center in Belvidere and is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on July 9. Prosecutors noted the new charges violate the terms of his release in a previous weapons case, and the state will seek to revoke that release.
The charges stem from a June 7 incident, when officers responded to reports of gunfire near Dumont Road and Hamilton Drive around 10:45 p.m. No injuries or property damage were reported. During the initial investigation, police recovered an assault rifle, armor-piercing ammunition, and a large-capacity magazine. Two juveniles from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, were arrested shortly after.
A 14-year-old juvenile was charged with unlawful possession of an assault rifle, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and possession of prohibited devices. A 17-year-old was charged with multiple conspiracy offenses related to the same incident. Both remain in custody pending hearings in Family Court.
The investigation was led by the Greenwich Township Police Department and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from the Warren County Tactical Response Team, Phillipsburg Police Department, and Washington Township Police Department’s K-9 Unit.
Acting Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone praised the coordinated response and emphasized the commitment to addressing gun violence in the region.
“The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, will continue to operate with coordinated and focused precision to keep our community safe,” Cardone said. “There is no place for illegal gun activity in Warren County.”
