A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after allegedly running over two New Jersey high school students, killing them in what authorities are describing as a deliberate act.
According to The New York Post, the suspect, identified as Vincent Battiloro, was reportedly driving at around 70 miles per hour when he struck 15-year-old Maria Niotis and 16-year-old Isabella Salas as they rode an e-bike through their suburban Cranford neighborhood.
The teen allegedly fled the scene in a black Jeep, leaving the girls critically injured.
Emergency responders airlifted both victims to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
In a YouTube livestream a day before his arrest, Battiloro interestingly addressed the incident, offering condolences to the girls’ families and even referring to them as ‘victims’.
“I would like to send my sincerest condolences to the victims of the accident,” he said during the video.
According to Fox News, Maria’s family claimed that Battiloro had been stalking her for months and that they had previously filed a report with local police.
The family further alleged that the teen had planned the attack in advance, claims that authorities are now investigating.
Before his arrest, Battiloro also told viewers he had faced harassment and threats online following the crash.
Meanwhile, Westfield Police Chief Chris Battiloro, a relative of the suspect, released a public statement condemning the act and distancing his family from the teen’s alleged behavior.
“I want to be clear as loud and as firm as possible, that in no way do my wife, children, or I condone, defend, or excuse the actions that caused this terrible and tragic loss of life,” he said in a statement quoted by Spotlight News.
“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.”
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.