Sussex County teen points loaded firearm at household member, faces weapon charges, police say

FRANKLIN BOROUGH, NJ (Sussex County) – A teen was charged on Sunday after police say a 16-year-old pointed a loaded firearm at a household member in Franklin Borough.

Police responded to a borough residence on Feb. 11 for a reported dispute and during the investigation, it was determined that a 16-year-old juvenile in the residence had allegedly pointed a loaded firearm at a household member in the course of the dispute, police said.

No weapons were discharged, and no one injured, police said.

While on scene, officers additionally investigated other weapons and prohibited devices being possessed and improvised by the juvenile within the home. With the assistance of the Franklin Borough Detective Bureau, the Sussex County Prosecutors Office, and the New Jersey State Police Bomb Unit, each weapon and other unlawful device was removed from the home, and the juvenile was taken into custody without incident, police said.

The juvenile was charged aggravated assault with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, manufacturing firearms, possession of large capacity magazines, and possession of a destructive device.

The juvenile was then lodged in the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Reform Act, police said.

“The investigation is ongoing; however, no specific threats or public safety concerns have been identified at this time,” police said.