The prosecution of two juveniles charged in the death of a 16-year-old Snyder High School student has been moved to Superior Court where they will be tried as adults.
On Friday, the cases of Juan Crawford, 18, and Leo Barker, 17, both of Jersey City, were “waived up” to the Law Division of the Superior Court. They have both been implicated in the December 2021 shooting death of Pedro Rodriguez at “O’Lala Empanadas” at 600 Communipaw Avenue and are facing charges of Murder and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
For certain crimes, prosecutors and judges in New Jersey can move the cases of juvenile offenders to Superior Court. The defendant is then said to be “waived up” from juvenile to adult court.
Crawford was 17 when the shooting occurred and was arrested and charged as a juvenile in December of 2021. Barker was 16 when the shooting occurred and was arrested and charged as a juvenile in March of 2022.
If convicted as adults, Crawford and Barker face up to life in prison.